PARIS, May 11 -- Ajax and Manchester United labored through their respective opponents to set up the final matchup of UEFA Europa League on Thursday.
Ajax resisted Ligue 1 side Lyon's 3-1 home win to set the aggregate score at 5-4, while Man United built on their one-goal advantage in the first leg for a 2-1 aggregate against Celta Vigo.
Trailing by three goals, home side Lyon had no other option than attacking from the first minute, only to see their fragile defense broken down by their Dutch opponents in the 27th minute, when Kasper Dolberg beat Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes with a tricky shot. Lyon defender Rafael failed to clear the ball before the goal line.
Resilient Lyon made a strong comeback late in the first half with their top scorer Alexandre Lacazette's two goals in less than two minutes.
The hosts continued their attacking play in the second half. After Ajax player Donny van de Beek hit the crossbar, two substitutes managed to cut the deficit in aggregate to one goal for Lyon with nine minutes remaining, as Rachid Ghezzal headed Maciej Rybus' left-wing cross into the net.
Ajax defender Nick Viergever was sent off after receiving his second yellow card in the 84th minute. Four minutes later, Lyon wasted their best chance to level the score, as Maxwel Cornet saw his shot off the post.
Marouane Fellaini earned Man United a 1-0 lead on 17 minutes with a header, while that was erased by Facundo Roncaglia's shot at target with five minutes to go.
Man United, who relied more on the tournament title for an automatic qualification into next season's UEFA Champions League than a top-four finish in the league, will play Ajax in Stockholm, Sweden on May 24.
体坛英语资讯:Palacios bids farewell to River Plate ahead of Bayer Leverkusen move
宜家的环保计划:要在2030年前把碳足迹变成负
国内英语资讯:Chinese premier urges efforts to improve peoples livelihood
国内英语资讯:Chinas Forbidden City declares closure amid pneumonia infection concern
体坛英语资讯:Israels Maccabi Tel Aviv sign Zhejiang Lions guard Aaron Jackson
体坛英语资讯:Golds for US and Japan as Snowboard Big Air debuts at Worlds first permanent jump
国际英语资讯:Palestinian president meets Macron over efforts to save two-state solution
体坛英语资讯:Rwandas youth to benefit from China sporting ties, says official
国内英语资讯:China SOEs pitch in to combat virus spread
调查发现:头脑风暴是在浪费时间
国内英语资讯:Chinese vice premier requires winning battle against novel coronavirus
美国出现新的生活方式,每个月都换城市生活
国内英语资讯:Spring Festival gala poised for live broadcast
国际英语资讯:Lebanese president urges new cabinet to deal with financial, economic crises
国内英语资讯:Xi Focus: CPC leadership meets to discuss novel coronavirus prevention, control
十二生肖中为何老鼠排第一?
国内英语资讯:Chinese vice premier orders all-out efforts to curb virus outbreak
国内英语资讯:1.87 mln daily entry, exit trips predicted for Spring Festival holiday
国内英语资讯:Xinhua Headlines: Quiet and busy -- Lunar New Years Eve in Wuhan, center of coronavirus fi
多数男性认为自己留胡子更帅 女性却不这么看
用脚掌亲吻大地
体坛英语资讯:Maradona pledges future to Gimnasia after club elections
国际英语资讯:Sudan govt signs peace deal with opposition groups
每个人都值得被命运恩宠
国内英语资讯:China launches national service system to support novel coronavirus research
国内英语资讯:Xi Focus: Xi stresses racing against time to reach Chinese Dream
国内英语资讯:China tightens preventive measures to curb novel coronavirus
国内英语资讯:China donates 144,000 USD to help Philippine communities affected by volcano eruption
体坛英语资讯:Chinas head coach says his team technically inferior to Japans counterpart
国内英语资讯:China tightens measures to curb cross-border spread of new coronavirus