SOCCER/Champions League/Group C: Ajax Amsterdam qualified for the UEFA Cup after finishing third in Champions League Group C with a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich last night.

Ajax pipped Maccabi Tel Aviv for a place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup because of a better head-to-head record after both teams finished with four points from six games.

The Israelis drew 1-1 with group winners Juventus, who had already reached for the Champions League knockout stage along with Bayern.

Bayern started without the injured Willy Sagnol and Hasan Salihamidzic but took the lead after nine minutes when Julien Escude headed the ball to Roy Makaay, who fired the ball past goalkeeper Hans Vonk.

Eight minutes later the home side created their first chance when defender Hatem Trabelsi came in from the right flank and fired a shot from outside the box but Oliver Kahn blocked the ball with one hand.

Ajax needed 25 minutes to settle before Wesley Sneijder set up Ryan Babel but the 17-year-old fired wide.

Then seven minutes before the break Tomas Galasek's deflected shot beat Kahn.

Nicola Mitea put Ajax ahead following a pass by Sneijder before Ballack earned Bayern a point by heading in a superb cross from Ze Roberto.

In Tel Aviv, Maccabi took the lead with a Barukh Dego penalty in the 30th minute after striker Emile Mbamba was brought down by Fabio Cannavaro.

Juve equalised when Alessandro del Piero struck with a close range shot in the 71st minute to dash the Israelis' hopes of European competition after Christmas.

The only consolation for Maccabi was that they became the first team in the group to score or take a point off Juve, who won their opening five matches 1-0.