AMSTERDAM - Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar struck twice to earn Ajax Amsterdam a 3-0 UEFA Cup win over Austria Vienna on Thursday.

Ajax Amsterdam's Klaas Jan Huntelaar (L) screams after scoring past Rapid Vienna's goalkeeper Szabolcs Safar during their UEFA Cup Group F soccer match in Amsterdam November 2, 2006. [Reuters]

Huntelaar broke the deadlock from close range 10 minutes before halftime after goalkeeper Szabolcs Safar had blocked a Zdenek Grygera header.

The Dutch league leaders, playing their first match in Group F, sealed the points with two goals in four minutes midway through the second half.

Edgar Manucharyan scored with a deflected goal and then an unmarked Huntelaar nodded in a free kick from Kenneth Perez.

It was the first meeting between the two sides since September 1989 when their UEFA Cup tie in Amsterdam was suspended in extra time after the Austrian goalkeeper Franz Wolfahrt was hit by a bar thrown from the stands.

The Amsterdam side were banned for a year after the incident though made a successful return in 1991 to lift the trophy.