Ronaldo scores as Juve draw with Ajax

 Ajax weren’t rattled by a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo at the stroke of halftime, equalizing immediately after the break to secure a 1-1 draw against Juventus in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals Wednesday. Showing increasing confidence after eliminating three-time defending champions Real Madrid in the last 16, Ajax produced more chances early on but then let Ronaldo waltz through their defense to head in a cross in the 45th minute.

Ronaldo was returning from a two-week injury layoff.

In the opening minute of the second half, David Neres capitalized on an error from Juventus winger Jose Cancelo - who provided the cross for Ronaldo’s goal - and curled a shot into the far top corner.

Juventus nearly won it when Douglas Costa hit the post in the 85th.

The second leg is scheduled for next Tuesday in Turin, with the winners to face Manchester City or Tottenham in the semifinals.

The match was marred by fan clashes ahead of the game.

Police in Amsterdam said they fired a water cannon at football fans “to put out flares and prevent unsafe situations.”

Local broadcaster AT5 showed images of scores of chanting fans being hosed by the water cannon and responding by tossing fireworks and flares at police before mounted officers charged at them followed by riot police.

Earlier, police in the Dutch capital said they had detained dozens of Italians suspected of possessing flares, a knife, pepper spray and fireworks.

It was a rematch of the 1996 final which was won by Juventus in a penalty shootout.

Ajax threatened through Hakim Ziyech early on and Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had to produce a leaping one-handed save to deny the Morocco international.

Juventus struggled to get past Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt until Ronaldo took matters into his own hands, setting up Cancelo on the right wing then sprinting past several defenders to head in Cancelo’s cross. Goalkeeper Andre Onana could only get a weak hand on the ball.

Ronaldo hadn’t played since injuring his right thigh while on international duty with Portugal last month but he showed no signs of a problem.

After his goal, a fan jumped over a barrier and ran to embrace Ronaldo and his teammates celebrating near the corner flag. Security quickly took the fan away.

Neres, a 22-year-old Brazilian, leveled 30 seconds into the second half with a shot that Szczesny had no chance on.

Both teams threatened near the end. Szczesny swatted away a blast from Jurgen Ekkelenkamp before Costa hit the woodwork at the other end with a long, angled shot and Onana palmed away another dangerous effort from Cancelo.

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri opted not to bring on Moise Kean, a 19-year-old Italy striker who had scored seven goals in his last eight games for club and country.