On this day in 2001, Celtic dismantled Ajax with a stunning performance in Amsterdam. The Hoops travelled to the Johan Cruijff ArenA as underdogs for the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie, but left the bookmakers abashed inside seven minutes as Bobby Petta coolly put the visitors in front. Didier Agathe then showed his blistering pace to race away and make it 2-0, before Arveladze pegged one back for the hosts just before half time.
How Martin O’Neill’s men would react to that setback was anyone’s guess, but it took just ten minutes to get the answer as Chris Sutton thundered home a powerful header, which belted the underside of the crossbar on its way in. The Bhoys were cruising!
The match finished 3-1 and a cautious Celtic performance ensured the tie was won at Paradise, albeit Ajax won the second leg 1-0.
It was a great achievement for the Celts to breeze past such a top opponent. The Ajax line up was teeming with quality and there are many recognisable names, even among the substitutes.
Ajax: Grim; Chivu, Trabelsi, Mido, Arveladze, Pasanen, Machlas, Yakubu (Van Der Meyde), Van der Vaart, Ikedia (Ibrahimovic), Cruz.
Celtic: Douglas; Boyd, McNamara, Valgaeren, Larsson (Hartson), Sutton, Lambert, Petta (Guppy), Agathe, Lennon, Mjallby.