Auxerre kept alive its slim hope of reaching the Champions League knockout phase by beating Ajax 2-1 courtesy of substitute Steven Langil's late second-half winner on Wednesday.
Langil slotted home in the 84th minute with a shot between Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg's legs after being set up by Kamel Chafni's deep free kick.
Frederic Sammaritano put Auxerre ahead in the ninth minute, and Ajax defender Toby Alderweireld equalized in the 79th with a powerful header from Luis Suarez's cross.
Despite losing its first three matches, last-place Auxerre has three points in Group G, just one less than Ajax. Real Madrid tops the group with 10 points, five more than AC Milan.
The game started with an intense fight for ball possession with Ajax pushing to score quickly.
Ajax striker Suarez had a great opportunity in the 6th minute following a nice collective move on the right flank but he fluffed his shot wide.
Left unmarked on the left after a swift counterattack, forward Urby Emanuelson drove his shot over the crossbar a minute later.
Ajax had the ball possession but Auxerre went ahead against the run of the play when Sammaritano, playing his first Champions League match, unleashed a deflected shot inside the post after Julien Quercia chested down the ball for him from Dariusz Dudka's lofted pass.
Ajax responded in the 12th minute when Demy de Zeeuw missed the target by a few inches (centimeters) with an acrobatic volley from Rasmus Lindgren's cross while goalkeeper Olivier Sorin looked beaten.
Ajax had the most of the ball possession with Auxerre players dangerous on the break and trying to threaten Stekelenburg with long-range shots.
Sammaritano went close in the 37th after Ajax defenders failed to clear a cross but the inexperienced midfielder sent his 25-meter low shot wide.
Suarez burst down the right flank and showed great technical skills one minute later before firing an angled-shot at the far post that swept wide.
Auxerre dominated the end of the first half, with Birsa's header forcing Stekelenburg to a good diving save in the 44th.
Auxerre kept pushing after the interval but defender Cedric Hengbart volleyed straight at Stekelenburg in the 49th.
Not long after Ajax woke up, with Sorin punching a ball to deny striker Mounir El Hamdaoui's effort in the 60th just before Siem De Jong shot over the bar after a fine one-two with de Zeeuw.
Suarez sent a header against the woodwork one minute later from Gregory van der Wiel's cross before almost silencing the home crowd with a close shot that ended just wide.
Left unmarked in the area, Alderweireld finally opened Ajax's account in the 79th but Auxerre fought back with a great last-gasp offensive display and was rewarded when Chafni quickly played his free kick to set up Langil behind the Ajax defense, with the substitute providing the winner with a clinical finish.
