IMAGE: Davy Klaassen of Ajax applaudes the fans after victory. Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images.
Former European Cup winners Celtic and Ajax Amsterdam safely negotiated tricky Champions League third-round qualifying ties on Wednesday to move one step away from the lucrative group stage.
Celtic needed a stoppage-time penalty from French striker Moussa Dembele to beat Kazakh side FC Astana 2-1 and win 3-2 on aggregate. Leigh Griffiths also scored from a spot-kick in the first half for the Scottish champions before Agim Ibraimi equalised.
Four-times European Cup winners Ajax beat Greek side PAOK Salonika 2-1 away, with captain Davy Klaassen getting a brace, and 3-2 on aggregate.
French team Monaco will also be in Friday's draw for the playoff round after beating Turkey's Fenerbahce 3-1 to seal a 4-3 aggregate victory.
