Nedved gives Capello measure of revenge over Ajax

A superb goal by the Czech Republic's European footballer of the year Pavel Nedved gave Juventus a 1-0 victory over Dutch side Ajax in their Champions League Group C match.

Juve's victory was only their second in nine trips to the Netherlands - their last a 2-1 victory over the same opposition in the 1997 Champions League semi-final - and gave coach Fabio Capello some measure of revenge as his then AC Milan side had lost to the Dutch in the 1995 Champions League final.

Nedved re-energised a match that had gone dead after a lively opening 10 minutes when he fired in a fierce shot in the 42nd minute that whistled into the top corner of the Ajax net after great work by Alessandro del Piero and Mauro Camoranesi.

Nedved resumed where he had ended the first-half by having the first serious effort on target in the second-half as he drifted into the box in the 55th minute but saw his shot saved well by Ajax 'keeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

Juventus, though, got away with it a minute later after good work by Romanian Nicolae Mitea down the wing which was flicked on by Rafael van der Vaart only for the Italian defence to thwart South African midfielder Steven Pienaar from shooting into the net.

The Dutch were the livelier now and Wesley Sonck's surge down the wing almost paid off as his cross sped across the goalface but van der Vaart was just a little too late to get to the ball.

Van der Vaart had another chance after the hour mark but again failed to get enough contact on it as Mitea was once again the provider.

Van der Vaart was now running the match as an injured Nedved was taken off and was desperately unlucky not to have equalised with a 30 metres freekick which was superbly taken by Gianluigi Buffon as it soared towards the top left hand corner.

Juventus then swung back into the dominant role with first former Ajax star Zlatan Ibrahimovic going close with a header and then Uruguayan substitute Ruben Olivera twice going near to doubling the lead but Stekelenburg was equal to the task.

Ajax had the first chance of the match with Belgian international striker Sonck unleashing a fierce drive in the third minute which beat 'keeper Gianluigi Buffon but hit the bar.

In an entertaining opening the Italians then fired in two shots on target, the first from Alessandro del Piero and Gianluca Zambrotta, the first was an easy gather for Stekelenburg while the latter was saved well.

Nedved was the next Juve player to have a chance but after being found by the tireless Zambrotta his curling effort went wide and the Czech maestro was promptly booked.

Ibrahimovic had been largely anonymous for the opening 15 minutes and his only contribution was to foul former team-mate Zdenek Gryggera.

The Swedish star finally had his first shot on goal in the 35th minute but it came back off a defender and Zambrotta's effort went wildly wide.