APOEL and Ajax faced off in their Champions League Group F clash on Tuesday at the GSP Stadium.
It was the first time the teams had met in a competitive game, and both were looking to register their first wins in the competition this season.
However, the match ended in a 1-1 draw as a penalty from Gustavo Manduca cancelled out Lucas Andersen's 28th-minute effort as both teams were forced to settle for a point.
Read below to see how all the action unfolded.
Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the Champions League Group F clash between APOEL and Ajax.
Tonight's match is a crucial game for Ajax as they need to capitalise on playing the weakest opponents in the group to give themselves a chance to progress to the latter stages of the competition. However, APOEL proved in their narrow defeat to Barcelona at the Camp Nou that they are far from pushovers.
APOEL played well against Luis Enrique's men last time out and that will give them plenty of confidence heading into the game tonight. The Cypriot side will need to work on their play in the final third as they had opportunities against Barcelona that could have earned them a point, so they must ensure they take those if they come along this evening.
Frank de Boer's side showed their Champions League mettle as they came from a goal down to draw with Paris Saint-Germain in their opener. Lasse Schone cancelled out Edinson Cavani's early strike to earn his side a point, which could be crucial for the Dutch side progressing further into the competition. De Boer will know that his side need to pick up all three points against APOEL to ensure they keep themselves in the mix with Barcelona and PSG.
Schone is on display this evening and he will be looking to add to his goal tally in the competition.
The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.
APOEL STARTING XI: Pardo, Guilherme, Carlao, Antoniades, Mario Sergio, Tiago Gomes, Vinicius, Manduca, Nuno Morais, Aloneftis, Sheridan.
APOEL SUBS: Chiotis, Kaka, Efrem, Charalambides, Sotiriou, De Vincenti, Djebbour.
AJAX STARTING XI: Cillessen, Van Rhijn, Veltman, Moisander, Boilesen, Viergever, Klaassen, Schone, Serero, Sigthorsson, Andersen.
AJAX SUBS: Boer, Denswil, Duarte, Zimling, Kishna, Milik, El Ghazi.
APOEL boss Giorgos Donis makes one change to his side from their defeat to Barcelona last time out. Gustavo Manduca, who impressed as a subsitute at the Camp Nou, comes into the side to replace Tomas De Vicenti. The home side are expected to line up in a 4-4-2 formation this evening.
De Boer has kept faith with the same starting lineup that drew 1-1 against PSG last time out. Kolbeinn Sigthorsson continues to lead the line in a one-man attack, supported by Lucas Andersen and Schone on the flanks. Nick Viergever anchors the midfielder by sitting in front of the back four, while Davy Klaassen and Thulani Serero occupy the other two central roles in the middle of the park.
De Boer has admitted that his side face a tough task at the GSP Stadium tonight, and is fully aware of the threat that the Cypriot side can pose: "We all saw them against Barcelona and how good they were. We know they have a fanatical following and the fans are close to the pitch. My players are young but know what to expect and we are confident we can handle whatever is thrown at us."
Ajax are in good form coming into this evening's clash as they are unbeaten in their last five matches. Their last loss came in Eredivisie in August to Groningen, while in their last outing in the league they put five past NAC Breda as Sigthorsson notched a hat-trick.
APOEL are also in a good run of form and have lost just once in their last eight matches, with that defeat coming against Barcelona in their opener in the competition. Donis's side currently top the Division One in Cyprus, having taken 13 points from their first five matches of the season.
STAT ATTACK! This match is the first time APOEL have faced Dutch opposition.
Donis and De Boer have faced off in the Champions League before today. Donis was part of the Panathinaikos side that was defeated by Ajax in the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 1995-6 season. There is further motivation there for APOEL to get one over on De Boer and his Ajax side tonight.
A look inside the GSP Stadium this evening as we approach kickoff.
The teams are making their way out onto the pitch and we should be underway shortly.
Irish striker Cillian Sheridan leads the line for APOEL tonight. The 25-year-old joined the club last season from Kilmarnock and will be looking to make an impact for the Cypriot side in the competition.
We're underway at the GSP Stadium.
CHANCE! Ajax should be ahead but Sigthorsson somehow puts his effort wide of the target from close range. It was a brilliant move from the visitors as they passed the ball around the hosts with ease and Klaassen put the ball on a plate for the striker, but he couldn't convert.
APOEL try to hit back after the early scare as Manduca raids forward down the right. He picks out the run of Vincius from deep, but the midfielder's touch is heavy as he tries to raid into the box and Ajax clear the danger.
The visitors threaten down the left as Andersen gets to the byline. The winger lifts a cross into the box, but Carlao is on hand to clear with a header behind, but Pardo does extremely well to save the corner for the hosts with a diving grab.
CHANCE! Ajax move down the right flank this time and Klaassen whips another dangerous cross into the box, but Sigthorsson just can't reach the ball as he flies across the face of goal, which allows the home side to clear their lines.
Ajax are dominating possession at the moment and seem quite content to knock the ball around the middle of the field to try to draw the home side out of their defensive positions.
The tempo of the game has dropped slightly as Ajax look a little short of ideas as the home side are defending deep and in numbers. There's isn't much space to exploit in behind and through the middle, which is forcing Sigthorsson into the wide areas.
Manduca whips a dangerous cross into the box from a corner for APOEL. Sheridan gets up highest in the middle, but he can't direct his header and it sails wide of the target. Carlao tries to keep the ball in but can only loop his effort into the hands of Cillessen.
Patient build-up from the visitors as they work the ball across field with Schoen and Sigthorsson exchanging near passes. The ball comes to Klaassen down the right wing and from a tight angle he decides to fire an effort at goal, which he scuffs into the ground and allows Pardo to claim.
The home side are sitting back in this match and are trying to absorb the pressure from Ajax. The tactic seems to be working for now, but you have to question how long they can hold out against the Dutch champions.
GOAL! APOEL 0-1 Ajax (Andersen)
Right on cue Ajax take the lead! Andersen released the run of Schone down the middle and the winger's shot was well saved by Pardo. Unfortunately for the keeper the ball rebounded into the path of Andersen, who placed the ball into the bottom corner.
The goal had been coming and it will be interesting to see the response from the home side now. It will force them to come out of their shell and attack De Boer's side.
PENALTY TO APOEL!
GOAL! APOEL 1-1 Ajax (Manduca pen)
APOEL bring themselves level almost immediately in controversial circumstances as Van Rhijn is adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. The referee didn't initially give the penalty but after a break of 10 seconds, pointed to the spot, in an apparent conversation with one of his assistants. Manduca made no mistake with the effort as he fired the ball past Cillessen.
The visitors look to retake the lead as they win a free kick in a dangerous area of the pitch. Schone tries to lift a cross to Moisander and Veltman at the back post, but he overhits his ball in and it goes out for a goal kick.
YELLOW CARD! Moisander goes into the book for a challenge on Sheridan.
Aloneftis gets away with taking a dangerous took inside his own box as he attempted to clear his lines. The midfielder was closed down by Klaassen but the referee came to his rescue and awarded a free kick. Replays hage suggested the Ajax man won the ball fairly.
CHANCE! APOEL hit the visitors on the counter and come within inches of finding the net. Manduca leads a counter-attack and bursts into the box, he does well to beat the challenge of Veltman and crosses for the unmarked Sheridan at the back post. However, the ball across is just too quick for the striker and he can't reach the ball with his toes for a sure tap-in.
A strong spell of possession by Ajax to end the half but they can't force their way into the box as the home side are pressing to keep them at bay. A frustrating end to the first period for De Boer.
There will be one minute of added time.
HALF-TIME: APOEL 1-1 Ajax
It's all square the the break at the GSP Stadium as Manduca's penalty levelled things up after Andersen had fired the visitors ahead. Ajax have been the better side but struggled to make many clear-cut chances despite their dominance in possession. APOEL were solid at the back for the majority of the 45 minutes and seemed content to play on the break. The second half presents an interesting dynamic for both teams, and their chances to progress from Group F.
Elsewhere in the Champions League PSG lead Barcelona 2-1 in the other match in Group F this evening. Strikes from Marco Verratti and David Luiz have given Laurent Blanc's men the advantage, while Lionel Messi scored for the Catalan club. If the results stay as they are PSG will lead the group with Barca in the second place. Ajax and APOEL will be in third and fourth respectively.
We're back underway in the GSP Stadium.
Sheridan raids forward down the left and tries to beat the challenge of Veltman. The striker knocks the ball past the defender, but his touch is too heavy and it allows Moisander to come across and clear.
PENALTY APPEAL! Ajax think they should have a penalty as Serero goes down in the penalty area as he is held by Carlao. The referee waves the claims away and the visitors are not happy.
CHANCE! Ajax have a great chance to take the lead as Guilherme gifts the ball to Van Rhijn on the edge of the box. The right-back immediately picks out Schone in the middle, but the winger hits a tame effort straight at Pardo.
CHANCE! The home side spurn an excellent chance at the other end when Manduca breaks upfield and hits a pinpoint cross into the box for Sheridan. The forward beats Moisander in the area, but he guides his header from close range past the post.
YELLOW CARD! Cillessen goes into the box as he brings down Sheridan as he tried to break away down the left. The crowd want a red card to be shown to the keeper, but the referee brings out the yellow as there was cover on the line.
Ajax have struggled to get into a rhythm in the second half as they have failed to click in the final third of the pitch. Their quality from set pieces has also been absent as Schone's cross sails well over the bar when his side had a decent chance to threaten.
The match has become very scrappy as both sides are conceding very cheap free kicks. The referee isn't helping matters, but neither team has been able to wrestle control of the game in the second half.
Ajax finally muster a slick passing move in the second half as Schone and Klaassen exchange passess, but the return ball for the winger is just out of his reach as Pardo sprints of his line to collect the ball at his feet.
CHANCE! APOEL work the ball well in the final third as Manduca hits a cross into the final third of the pitch which is cleared into the path of Mario Sergio. The defender lets fly with a powerful drive from the edge of the box, but Cillessen gets down well to his left to make the stop.
CHANCE! Straight down the other end and Ajax should be ahead as Sigthorsson grapples with Carlao for to win the ball inside the APOEL box from a long ball downfield. The striker does win the battle, but he drives his effort straight into the chest of Pardo from close range.
CHANCE! Aloneftis almost gets in down the left as he speeds into the box. He tries to shoot at goal, but Van Rhijn gets back at him just in time to make the crucial block.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Tiago Gomes is replaced by De Vincenti for the home side, while Schone and Andersen come off for the visitors and are replaced by El Ghazi and Kishna.
The substitute Kishna almost makes an immediate impact as he beats his man down the left and lifts a cross into the middle for Sigthorsson to attack, but his header goes just over the bar.
APOEL turn up the heat on the visitors as another cross from Manduca isn't cleared properly and Mario Sergio fires another effort from distance at goal, but this time Veltman is there to make the crucial block.
YELLOW CARD! Guilherme goes into the book for the home side for bringing down Serero just outside the box.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Efrem and Djebbour come on late in the game tom replace Manduca and Sheridan.
CHANCE! Van Rhijn takes the free kick and his effort isn't gathered on the first attempt by Pardo as he spills the ball inside the six-yard box. Fortunately for the keeper, no Ajax player can react in time and he gathers at the second attempt.
CHANCE! Kishna speeds down the left again and manages to dig out a cross for Sigthorsson to attack, but the striker gets his effort wrong again as he fails to direct his header on target. Not the best night for the forward.
Another cross is pumped into the area and Sigthorsson wins the header but the ball looks to be shepherded out of play by Carlao. Serero does extremely well to speed round the defender and keep the ball win, but no-one in red and white is there to react when he knocks the ball back into the area.
YELLOW CARDS! Aloneftis goes into the book for the home side, while Sigthorsson joins him a minute later for a poor challenge for the visitors.
There will be two minutes of added time.
CHANCE! Ajax clear their lines from a corner but the ball goes only as far as Aloneftis on the edge of the area, who powers an effort towards the top corner. The strike looks good, but it goes inches past Cillessen's post.
CHANCE! Serero misses a golden chance to win the game for Ajax as the ball falls to him inside the box with Pardo out of his goal, but he drags his shot wide of the post. That was the moment, but the midfielder spurned his opportunity.
FULL-TIME: APOEL 1-1 Ajax
Despite a flurry of late chances the game ends all square at the GSP Stadium. Ajax will think they should have won this game on the balance of play and rue a controversial penalty decision that handed APOEL their equaliser. However, De Boer's side also lacked a clinical edge in the final third to fire themselves to the three points this evening.
Donis will be delighted with his side as they earned their first point of the competition and it could have been better had they taken some of the chances that were on offer. They will go into their clash with PSG full of confidence that they can compete against the best.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Be sure to join us again tomorrow for the rest of our coverage of the Champions League. But from me, it's goodnight.
