Ajax Stun Lyon By 4:1, Set For Europa League Final

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Ajax Amsterdam boosted their chances of making it to the final of the UEFA Europa League by spanking Olympique Lyon 4-1 in the first leg of their semi-final tie at the Amsterdam Arena on Wednesday.

The win extended Ajax’s unbeaten run at home in all competitions to 21, winning 20 games.

A brace from Bertrand Traore and further strikes from Kasper Dolberg and Amin Younes gave the Dutch side a comfortable lead going into the second leg at the Stade Gerland next week.

Traoré opened the floodgate of goals for Ajax in the 25th minute.

Dolberg doubled the lead ten minutes before half time. The Danish forward finished off a flicked pass from Traore to beat Lopes in goal for Lyon from close range.

Younes scored the third goal for the hosts four minutes after the restart, firing in a thunderous strike.

Lyon could have pulled a goal back through Nabil Fekir, but his effort was well kept out by Andre Onana at full stretch, preserving the home team’s three-goal advantage.

At the other end, Lopes also came off his line quick enough to prevent Dolberg from bagging his brace. Mathieu Valbuena gave Lyon a huge lifeline in the 66th minute, curling in after a poor clearance at the edge of the box.

Traore who had a memorable game bagged his brace to make it 4-1, diverting in Ziyech cross from close range.

The winner of this tie will meet Manchester United or Celta Vigo in the final at the Friends Arena in Stockholm on Wednesday, 24 May