Messi sends Barcelona through after win at Ajax

Lionel Messi equalled Raul Gonzalez as the top scorer of the UEFA Champions League as the Argentine scored twice in Barcelona's 2-0 win over Ajax, here.

Messi's brace in the 36th and 76th minutes helped the team reach pre-quarterfinals of the competition.

After the sensational 2-1 win over Barcelona last year in the group phase of the Champions League, Ajax had hopes of repeating the feat.

With their star front-line Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar, Barcelona were dominant from the start. After El Ghazi went down in the penalty area, Ajax claimed a foul by visiting defender Jordi Alba and a penalty, which was denied by referee Pedro Proenca.

In the following attack, Messi's powerful free-kick was saved by Ajax goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, who dived to his right and lost a duel with Marc Bartra, who set up Messi to score his 70th goal, which helped him equal with Real Madrid ace striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

In the second part Ajax fought for the equaliser, but the first major chance was for the visitors. Suarez broke through the Ajax defense and found Cillessen as the last opponent. The Ajax goalkeeper saved the shot from the former Ajax player.

With substitute Arkadiusz Milik for Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, Ajax got a big chance as well. The Polish striker hit the post with a header from a Thulani Serero cross.

In the 71st minute Ajax defender Joel Veltman received his second yellow card for holding Messi, reducing the home team to 10 players. Five minutes later, Messi scored his record-equaling 71st goal.

Barcelona secured their third win in Group F to move through. Coach Luis Enrique's team collected nine points from four matches. Paris Saint-Germain are on top with ten points after a 1-0 win over APOEL Nicosia in Paris. Ajax are third with two points, before APOEL with on point.