Ajax coach Danny Blind praised his young team for their impressive first half performance in the 2-2 draw with Inter in the Champions League first knockout round tie on Wednesday.

Despite the plaudits, though, the Dutch side's chances of reaching the quarter-finals are slim after they played more defensively in the second half allowing Inter back into the match ahead of the return at the San Siro on March 14.

Ajax, missing their entire first choice midfield through injury, made a flying start as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Mauro Rosales were on target in the first 20 minutes but Dejan Stankovic and Julio Cruz put Inter in control of the tie.

Blind told a news conference Ajax wanted to give themselves a fighting chance in the second leg but the result has left them with a difficult job in Italy.

"In the first half my players did exactly what I ordered them to do and based on good organisation and discipline we pressurised (central defender Ivan) Cordoba because we knew that he was their weak spot."

Huntelaar shines

The performance of striker Huntelaar on his Champions League debut also stretched the Italian side's experienced rearguard marshalled by former Real Madrid defender Walter Samuel.

The 22-year-old Huntelaar, who joined Ajax from Heerenveen in the winter transfer window for nine million euros ($10.71 million), showed his class from the start.

"We already knew what his qualities were but what he showed at this level was excellent," said Blind. "He played a great match for his team."

Huntelaar agreed with Blind that Ajax had played well in the first half but said they had helped the Italians get back on track after the break by failing to keep possession.

"Our loss of the ball in the second half was unnecessary and gave Inter the opportunity to move forward," he told reporters.

"It was a pity that we gave away the second goal, while we failed to convert on the counter-attack in the second half," he said referring to Cruz's 86th minute equaliser.

"We scored twice and therefore everything still is open for the return in Milan," added Huntelaar optimistically.

Dutch international Urby Emanuelson said Ajax's first half performance was their best of the season but playing defensively in the second period gave Inter the opportunity to fight back.

"I am pleased with this performance but sad about the result because I believed we could have won this match," Emanuelson told reporters.