Luis Suarez inspired Ajax to a comfortable 2-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in Group A of the Europa League.

Suarez earnt a penalty within 90 seconds of the start of the game and scored from the spot to give Martin Jol's side the perfect start.

And after coming close to scoring another on several occasions, Suarez set up substitute Dennis Rommedahl to seal the win nine minutes from time.

Substitute Ivan Tomecak did pull a goal back in injury time with a left-footed shot from 20 yards, but it was too little, too late for the visitors.

From Ajax's first attack Suarez was tripped by Robert Kovac as he cut in from the byline and then stepped up to strike a perfect spot-kick which gave goalkeeper Filip Loncaric no chance, even though he dived the right way.

Kovac had been booked for the foul on Suarez and was soon joined in the referee's notebook by Vurnon Anita and Urby Emanuelson.

Emanuelson was then mistakenly shown a red card by referee Thomas Einwaller, who thought he had already booked the defender before quickly realising his mistake.

Suarez was proving a constant threat to the visitors and went close to scoring his second goal of the night as half-time approached.

The Uruguay international curled a delightful free-kick just inches wide of the post with Loncaric desperately scrambling across his goal.

Dinamo had struggled to produce any clear-cut chances, a fact summed up by Jorge Sammir's excellent turn in the 45th minute being followed by a badly scuffed shot wide of the post.

Suarez was soon back at the heart of the action in the second half, collecting a superb long ball from Emanuelson as Ajax broke quickly out of defence.

He cut inside before unleashing a fierce shot which beat Loncaric at his near post but crashed back off the woodwork.

Just a minute later Suarez forced Loncaric to tip over another stinging drive before Marko Pantelic also flashed a shot narrowly wide of the target.

Dinamo's problems in front of goal continued as Milan Badelj screwed his shot woefully wide having been set up with an excellent opportunity by a well worked free-kick.

At the other end Suarez released Demy de Zeeuw into the area but his shot was partially blocked and trickled off the post and out for a corner.

But Suarez could not be contained and, after switching to the left-hand side, beat his man and crossed for Rommedahl to fire into an empty net, ensuring Tomecak's strike counted for little.

Teams:

Ajax (1) 2 Dinamo Zagreb (0) 1

Ajax Stekelenburg, Van Der Wiel, Alderweireld, Vertonghen,Anita, Enoh, De Zeeuw, Emanuelson, Suarez (Cvitanich 90),Pantelic (Rommedahl 74), Sulejmani (Gabri 78).

Subs Not Used: Vermeer, Oleguer, Aissati, Bakircioglu.

Booked: Anita, Emanuelson, Sulejmani.

Goals: Suarez 3 pen, Rommedahl 81.

Dinamo Zagreb Loncaric, Etto, Kovac, Lovren, Cufre,Morales (Sivonjic 62), Vrdoljak, Badelj, Sammir,Papadopoulos (Tomecak 68), Mandzukic (Kramaric 88).

Subs Not Used: Butina, Ibanez, Calello, Barbaric.

Booked: Kovac, Badelj, Cufre.

Goals: Tomecak 90.

Att: 30,700

Ref: Thomas Einwaller (Austria).