APOEL and Ajax played out a 1-1 draw in their Champions League Group F clash at the GSP Stadium on Thursday.
Frank de Boer's side took the lead in the 28th minute through Lucas Andersen as he smashed home a rebound from close range.
However, they were held to a draw as Gustavo Manduca scored a controversial penalty to earn Giorgos Donis's side their first point in the competition this season.
Here, Sports Mole analyses the game to see if the draw was a fair result.
Match statistics
APOEL
Shots: 5
On target: 2
Possession: 34%
Corners: 5
Fouls: 15
AJAX
Shots: 10
On target: 5
Possession: 66%
Corners: 2
Fouls: 18
Was the result fair?
On the balance of the play the result was probably fair as both sides had a similar amount of chances in front of goal. Ajax will not be happy about the penalty award for APOEL's eqaualiser as the referee harshly adjudged that Ricardo van Rhijn had handled the ball in the area. Either team could have won the game in the latter stages, but neither had the clinical edge to find the net again, so a point apiece seemed the just result.
APOEL's performance
Another good performance in the Champions League from the Cypriot side, backing up their effort from their narrow defeat to Barcelona last time out. Defensively they were solid enough throughout the 90 minutes, with only the occasional breakdown at the back. On another day they could have been punished for those lapses but a combination of poor finishing and good keeping from Urko Pardo saved them from defeat. Going forward they were always a threat when Manduca had the ball, and had Cillian Sheridan been clinical in front of goal they may have stolen all three points.
Ajax's performance
De Boer will not be pleased with what he saw from his side in the final third of the pitch. Everywhere else they performed admirably bar the odd bit of trouble from Manduca on the break. Kolbeinn Sigthorsson had a bad game leading the line up front as he never looked on the same page as his wingers or supporting players. The striker lacked a bit of the pace and that absence of a goal threat up front is what cost Ajax two points this evening. Lucas Andersen and Davy Klaassen were brilliant for the visitors, but Lasse Schone also wasn't quite at his best, especially from set pieces.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Gustavo Manduca: The forward was always a threat to the Ajax backline and seemed like the one player that could create something out of nothing. He showed excellent composure from the penalty spot to notch his side's equaliser. His delivery from the wide areas was always of the highest quality and should have been properly rewarded with better finishes. A very good outing for the Brazilian.
Biggest gaffe Referee Milorad Mazic may take the honour for this one as he harshly penalised Van Rhijn for handball in the box, although replays suggested that the ball hit the defender in the chest rather than the arm.
Referee performance As mentioned before Mazic was harsh to award the penalty against Van Rhijn for the spot kick, and was generally quite pedantic in his performance as he disrupted the flow of the game for little incidents, for which he then awarded free kicks. The Serb handed out six yellow cards, some of which were unnecessary, but credit to him one decision he got spot on was when he booked Ajax keeper Jasper Cillessen rather than sending him for a challenge on Cillian Sheridan. The home crowd wanted a red card, but the referee didn't yield to the pressure and produced a yellow. A mixed outing for the official at the GSP Stadium.
What next?
APOEL: Donis's side host Paris Saint-Germain in their next Champions League match on October 21.
Ajax: De Boer's men travel to the Camp Nou to take on Barcelona on October 21.
Simon Sinclair
