February 16, 2007	Friday	Muharram 27, 1428

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LONDON, Feb 15: Four-time European champions Ajax Amsterdam were given a UEFA Cup hiding by Werder Bremen on Wednesday, the Germans strolling to a 3-0 first-leg win in their first knockout round tie.

Werder took full advantage of Ajax midfielder Olaf Lindenbergh's dismissal midway through the first half with three goals after the break from Per Mertesacker, Naldo and Torsten Frings.

Werder's domestic title hopes have been hit by two consecutive league defeats but their form in Europe, they bowed out of the Champions League in the group phase after pushing Barcelona to the brink, makes them leading UEFA Cup contenders.

Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen, the 1988 UEFA Cup winners, overcame Blackburn Rovers 3-2 but CSKA Moscow were left frustrated after failing to break down stubborn Maccabi Haifa in a 'home' game played in Vladikavkaz.

The 2005 champions switched the first leg to the volatile Caucasus region near Chechnya, about 1,500-km south of the Russian capital, because of freezing temperatures but the move failed to pay off as CSKA drew 0-0.

The match was played amid tight security, with thousands of riot police employed in and around the Spartak stadium in addition to Russia's special anti-terrorist units, who were guarding the Israelis during their stay.

Leverkusen beat Blackburn although a late goal from substitute Shabani Nonda set up an exciting return at Ewood Park.

Defender Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker stole in at the back post to head Leverkusen in front, a lead they maintained until David Bentley's well-struck free kick from 35 metres deflected off the wall past keeper Jorg Butt.

Rovers's joy was shortlived as Carsten Ramelow scored before the break with another deflected shot.

If those goals owed much to good fortune, Leverkusen's third on 56 minutes was a sublime finish from Bernd Schneider, the German international back-heeling a cross from Gonzalo Castro.

Fenerbahce fought back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with injury-depleted AZ Alkmaar in Istanbul.

Demy de Zeeuw's goal for AZ was cancelled out by Tumer Metin to send the sides in level at halftime.

Two goals in the space of a minute just after the hour, from Nourdin Boukhari and substitute Julian Jenner, put AZ in control before Fenerbahce rallied with a low shot from Tuncay Sanli and Tumer's second goal.

The Dutch side's fine home record in Europe, AZ have not been beaten since making their debut in 1977, makes them favourites to progress.

Barukh Dego pounced from close range in the Bloomfield Stadium to secure Hapoel Tel Aviv a 2-1 home win over Rangers, tasting defeat in Europe for the first time since September 2005.

Espanyol striker Walter Pandiani took his tally in this season's competition to eight goals, netting the first from the penalty spot in a 2-1 win over Livorno at a deserted Stadio Armando Picchi, which does not yet meet new security regulations introduced in Italy.

A last-minute strike from Fabrizio Miccoli gave Benfica a 1-0 home triumph over Dinamo Bucharest while Paris St Germain, battling to avoid the drop in Ligue 1, earned a morale-boosting 2-0 victory in Greece over AEK Athens.

Shakhtar Donetsk were held 1-1 at home by AS Nancy and Girondins Bordeaux failed to break a resolute Osasuna defence in a 0-0 draw.

Holders Sevilla were taking on Steaua Bucharest in the Romanian capital in one of five games on Thursday.

Results of first knockout round, first leg matches:

Benfica 1 Dinamo Bucharest 0

AEK Athens 0 Paris St Germain 2

Livorno 1 Espanyol 2

Werder Bremen 3 Ajax Amsterdam 0

Hapoel Tel Aviv 2 Rangers 1

Fenerbahce 3 AZ Alkmaar 3

Bayer Leverkusen 3 Blackburn Rovers 2

CSKA Moscow 0 Maccabi Haifa 0

Girondins Bordeaux 0 Osasuna 0Shakhtar Donetsk 1 AS Nancy 1

—Reuters