Soccer: Celtic finally back with Europe's elite

Scotland's Celtic and Germany's Borussia Dortmund booked their places in the lucrative group phase of the Champions League yesterday, but there was no room for Rangers, or Parma.

Celtic, the first British team to win the European Cup, back in 1967, reached the Champions League for the first time, despite losing 0-1 to Ajax Amsterdam.

Rocked by a superb solo goal by Brazilian winger Wamberto, Martin O'Neill's team drew on their 3-1 victory in the first leg to see off the Dutch, four-time winners of Europe's flagship competition.

Borussia Dortmund, European champions in 1997, rallied from a goal down to beat Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 in their third preliminary round tie.

Rangers, who have missed out on $US15 million ($34.1 million) in prize money and television rights, were left to rue their 0-0 draw at home as they went down 1-2 to Fenerbahce.

Parma, UEFA Cup winners in 1998, won 1-0 in Lille with a Nestor Sensini strike but bowed out 1-2 on aggregate to the French side, two-thirds of whose players had no first division experience 14 months ago.

Parma's exit means Liverpool will now be one of the seeded clubs.

* David Beckham scored an own goal and a controversial free-kick equaliser as defending champions Manchester United were held 2-2 by promoted Blackburn Rovers in the English Premier League yesterday.

Blackburn led 2-1 with 12 minutes to go when defender Craig Short was sent off for a second yellow card, for a foul on substitute Dwight Yorke.

With Short making his way off the ground, and American goalkeeper Brad Friedel off his line, Beckham took a quick free kick and floated the ball into an empty net.

Despite Blackburn's protests, the goal stood.

Ryan Giggs had given Manchester United the lead but Blackburn hit back with an own goal off Beckham's head, and one from Keith Gillespie, before Beckham's equaliser.

In the other game yesterday, promoted Fulham beat Sunderland 2-0.

- AGENCIES