Ajax - Timişoara - 2009

Ajax's Europa League Group A campaign got off to a disappointing start as they were held to a goalless home draw by Romanian outfit FC Timisoara. Martin Jol's side dominated possession and had the better of what chances there were, but could not find a way past Timisoara goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon. The hosts made their positive intentions clear from the outset, Luis Suarez mustering the first shot within the opening minute, but the Uruguay forward's 25-yard effort was caught by Pantilimon. But openings were to prove few and far between in a disappointing first half. Ismail Aissati tried his luck at the far post from Demy De Zeeuw's outswinging corner in the 10th minute, but Dan Alexa cleared the danger. Siem De Jong also let fly from just outside the penalty area in the 21st minute but fired wide of Pantilimon's left-hand upright. The visitors, coached by former Feyenoord and Romania midfielder Ioan Sabau, posed little attacking threat in the first 45 minutes but managed to test Maarten Stekelenburg for the first time in the early stages of the second half. Alexandru Curtean blasted in a right-footed shot from 20 yards which Holland goalkeeper Stekelenburg did well to tip over the bar, but order was soon restored, with Martin Jol's side seeing more of the ball and looking the more likely of the two teams to break the deadlock. Pantilimon comfortably caught another long-range effort from De Jong seven minutes after the interval and De Zeeuw lashed wide just after the hour. Midway through the half, Jan Vertonghen met De Zeeuw's corner but his header failed to trouble Pantilimon. With 20 minutes remaining, Jol introduced record signing Miralem Sulejmani in place of Kennedy Bakircioglu, and Dennis Rommedahl for Aissati 10 minutes later, but still the breakthrough was not forthcoming. Pantilimon dealt easily with another blast from distance from De Jong and then tipped a fine shot from Urby Emanuelson over the bar. De Jong, Sulejmani and Suarez continued to pepper the visitors' goal with efforts in the closing stages, but without effect on scoreboard.

Ioan Ovidiu Sabau, coach of FC Timisoara: "We have to work much more from now on. We got a draw, but that doesn't mean too much. We shouldn't make too big plans after this result. We had a very difficult match, but the final result is deserved. We blocked very well our opponents and they couldn't show their real value. My players worked a lot and obtained a good result".