For Leverkusen it rounded off a desperate campaign which left them with the unwanted statistic of being the only side to ever finish the second phase with no points.
Van der Meyde's lightning fast goal for Ajax knocked the stuffing out of Roma and though they managed to level they were unable to score the goal that would have given them a chance of making the last eight and their exit will only add to the pressure on boss Fabio Capello, who tasted European glory with the great AC Milan side of the early 90's.
"We deserved victory because we created more chances but we started with a massive handicap by conceding an early goal," Capello said.
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