Manchester City's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League knockout phase took another blow as they were held to a draw by Ajax at Etihad Stadium.
Roberto Mancini's side knew victory was imperative after gaining only one point from their first three games in Group D - but their hopes were sabotaged by the concession of two early goals.
Ajax captain Siem de Jong took advantage of slack marking to put Ajax two up inside 17 minutes to leave the Premier League champions facing an exit at the group stage for the second successive season.
Yaya Toure gave City hope with a goal before half-time and Sergio Aguero set up a frantic finish with 17 minutes left as the Etihad finally came to life.
Aguero thought he had capped City's comeback only to see a goal contentiously ruled out for offside three minutes from time, and the game ended with substitute Mario Balotelli complaining bitterly that his shirt had been pulled by Ajax defender Ricardo van Rhijn in the game's final attack.
Mancini marched on to the pitch at the final whistle to remonstrate with the officials over the disallowed goal, but he could not alter an outcome that does little for his side's chances of progress.
City's point still leaves them with an outside chance of qualification, but they are heavily reliant on other results even if they take maximum points themselves.
Mancini's men knew this was a defining moment of a faltering campaign. Anything less than victory would effectively snuff out their hopes of moving through to the last 16.
And in a woeful opening phase they conceded two cheap goals from corners to hand the initiative instantly to Ajax.
City's defenders failed to react when Nilas Moisander headed a corner into the six-yard box, leaving the grateful De Jong to turn an angled finish high past Joe Hart.
It was a lead Ajax doubled after 17 minutes when De Jong once again escaped the attentions of Gareth Barry at the near post to head comfortably past Hart, a moment that left Mancini expressing
Roberto Mancini's side knew victory was imperative after gaining only one point from their first three games in Group D - but their hopes were sabotaged by the concession of two early goals.
Ajax captain Siem de Jong took advantage of slack marking to put Ajax two up inside 17 minutes to leave the Premier League champions facing an exit at the group stage for the second successive season.
Yaya Toure gave City hope with a goal before half-time and Sergio Aguero set up a frantic finish with 17 minutes left as the Etihad finally came to life.
Aguero thought he had capped City's comeback only to see a goal contentiously ruled out for offside three minutes from time, and the game ended with substitute Mario Balotelli complaining bitterly that his shirt had been pulled by Ajax defender Ricardo van Rhijn in the game's final attack.
Mancini marched on to the pitch at the final whistle to remonstrate with the officials over the disallowed goal, but he could not alter an outcome that does little for his side's chances of progress.
City's point still leaves them with an outside chance of qualification, but they are heavily reliant on other results even if they take maximum points themselves.
Mancini's men knew this was a defining moment of a faltering campaign. Anything less than victory would effectively snuff out their hopes of moving through to the last 16.
And in a woeful opening phase they conceded two cheap goals from corners to hand the initiative instantly to Ajax.
City's defenders failed to react when Nilas Moisander headed a corner into the six-yard box, leaving the grateful De Jong to turn an angled finish high past Joe Hart.
It was a lead Ajax doubled after 17 minutes when De Jong once again escaped the attentions of Gareth Barry at the near post to head comfortably past Hart, a moment that left Mancini expressing
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