Standard Liege come from behind to draw 2-2 with Ajax

Amsterdam, Aug 8: Standard Liege battled back from a two-goal deficit to salvage a 2-2 draw away against hosts AFC Ajax in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third-round qualifier.

The hosts on Tuesday took the lead in the 19th minute on a goal by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Dusan Tadic doubled the advantage for Ajax 15 minutes later, reports Efe.

Mehdi Carcela clawed back a goal for Standard in the 67th minute, spinning away from an Ajax defender before blasting the ball into the net. Renaud Emond converted a penalty in stoppage time to complete the comeback for the visitors.

In Portugal, Benfica edged visiting Fenerbahce with a goal in the 69th minute by Franco Emanuel Cervi.

Dinamo Zagreb defeated Astana FC 2-0 in the Kazakh capital, getting goals from Mario Budimir and Dani Olmo, while Stanislav Dragun's first-half tally was all BATE Borisov needed to best hosts Qarabag 1-0.

Both of Tuesday's remaining matches, Malmö-MOL Vidi and Red Star Belgrade-Spartak Trnava, ended 1-1.

The second legs are set for August 14.