Demy de Zeeuw and Luis Suarez scored Tuesday to help Ajax beat Auxerre 2-1 and earn its first victory in Group G of the Champions League.
De Zeeuw capitalized on some sluggish defending, firing in a fierce shot from 20 yards (meters) to give Ajax the lead after seven minutes.
Suarez put Ajax in firm control in the 41st, doubling the Amsterdam side's lead with a close range effort after a defense-splitting pass from Mounir El Hamdaoui.
Valter Birsa pulled one back for Auxerre, curling in a free kick after Andre Ooijer had fouled Dennis Oliech in the 55th. Ooijer was dismissed for obstruction, and Oliech was also sent off in the 84th after picking up a second yellow card.
The loss left Auxerre winless after three games. Ajax and AC Milan have four points each, five behind leader Real Madrid.
Ajax next travels to Auxerre Nov. 3.
Minutes after his header from a Suarez cross flew over the crossbar, De Zeeuw put Ajax in front, dipping his swerving long range strike into the far, top corner and beyond goalkeeper Olivier Sorin's reach.
Roy Contout thought he had leveled for Auxerre in the 24th but Portuguese referee Olegario Benquerenca disallowed his effort, ruling he had fouled goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Despite taking an early lead, Ajax struggled for possession in the first half as Auxerre's strikers kept the opposition defense on its toes.
Miralem Sulejmani started the move that led to Ajax's second goal, making a darting run on the right flank before picking El Hamdaoui, whose precise pass found Suarez. The Uruguay forward made no mistake, beating Sorin with a low shot from a difficult angle.
Ajax appeared in control until Ooijer's foul on Oliech, which led to Auxerre's goal. Cedric Hengbart's powerful header needed a well-timed block from Eyong Enoh in the 66th as Auxerre pressed for an equalizer.
Oliech could have equalized for Auxerre late on but his attempt to score with his hand led to his dismissal.
