Auxerre cause major upset

UNFANCIED Auxerre last night inflicted a shock 2-1 home defeat on four times champions Ajax to leave group A of the European Champions' League wide open.

With Grass hopper Zurich losing 2-1 to Glasgow Rangers, three clubs are level on nine points each.

While Auxerre entertain the Scottish champions, Ajax will have to dig deep to earn something from their December visit to Zurich.

The French side, needing to beat Ajax to keep alive their hopes of reaching the last eight at the first attempt, had a dream start when Bernard Diomede smashed home from short range after a clever back header from Lilian Laslandes.

Ajax clawed their way back into the game and drew level a minute before the break when Nigerian winger Tijani Babaagida rounded Lionel Charbonnier in the Auxerre goal and scrambled the ball home.

With 11 minutes gone in the second half, Auxerre's Nigerian defender Taribo West powered through the home defence on a surging run and fed Marlet who sealed victory with a right foot shot past Van der Sar.

AC Milan edged closer to a place in the quarter finals with a hard fought 1-1 draw at Porto in group D.

Dutch star Edgar Davids put Milan ahead after 55 minutes with a sweetly struck drive from a headed pass by Liberian striker George Weah.

But Porto, who had already qualified for the quarter finals, quickly struck back through Brazilian midfielder Edmilson Pimenta in the 70th minute, a goal which means they will finish top of the group.

In the other group D match, Bent Skammelsrud's 66th minute penalty led Norway's Rosenborg to a 1-0 home victory over Swedish side IFK Gothenburg to keep their hopes of a quarter final place alive in Trondheim.

Borussia Dortmund scored a late goal to qualify for the quarter finals with a 2-2 draw against Widzew Lodz. Juergen Kohler scored the crucial goal in the Group B encounter in the 62nd minute. Athletico Madrid, who played out a 1-1 draw with Steau Bucharest last night, also progressed to the quarter finals.

Much to Manchester United's frustration, Turkey's Fenerbahce kept their quarter final hopes alive by beating Austrians Rapid Vienna. In a tight game, that both teams needed to win, Fenerbahce scored a well deserved goal from Danish defender Jes Hogh in the 75th minute. Fenerbahce's Nigerian defender Uche Okechukwu headed a long cross from Erol Bulut onto the bar and the rebound landed in front of Hogh, who headed home.