Ajax 0-0 FC Timisoara

Martin Jol's side dominated possession and had the better of what chances there were, but could not find a way past Timisoara goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.

The hosts made their positive intentions clear from the outset with Luis Suarez mustering the first shot within the opening minute. Pantilimon caught the Uruguay forward's 25-yard effort.

But openings were to prove few and far between in a disappointing first half.

Ismail Aissati tried his luck at the far post from Demy De Zeeuw's outswinging corner in the 10th minute, but Dan Alexa cleared the danger.

Siem De Jong also let fly from just outside the penalty area in the 21st minute but fired wide of Pantilimon's left-hand upright.

The visitors, coached by former Feyenoord and Romania midfielder Ioan Sabau, posed little attacking threat in the first 45 minutes but managed to test Maarten Stekelenburg for the first time in the early stages of the second period.

Alexandru Curtean blasted in a right-footed shot from 20 yards which Holland goalkeeper Stekelenburg did well to tip over the bar.

Order was soon restored, however, with Martin Jol's side seeing more of the ball and looking the more likely of the two teams to break the deadlock.

Pantilimon comfortably caught another long-range effort from De Jong seven minute after the interval and De Zeeuw lashed wide just after the hour.

Jan Vertonghen met De Zeeuw's corner midway through the second half but his header failed to trouble Pantilimon.

Jol introduced record signing Miralem Sulejmani in place of Kennedy Bakircioglu with 20 minutes remaining and Dennis Rommedahl for Aissati 10 minutes later, but still the breakthrough was not forthcoming.

Pantilimon dealt easily with another blast from distance from De Jong and then tipped a fine shot from Urby Emanuelson over the bar.

De Jong, Sulejmani and Suarez continued to pepper the visitors' goal with efforts in the closing stages, but all to no avail.