Match ends, Ajax 4, Lyon 1.
AjaxAjax4LyonLyon1
Ajax moved to the brink of a first European final in 21 years by overwhelming Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
The Dutch side led when on-loan Chelsea striker Bertrand Traore glanced in a header, before Kasper Dolberg drove in a second after defensive confusion.
In an open affair, Amin Younes struck a third via a deflection after the break.
Mathieu Valbuena gave Lyon hope by curling in an away goal, but Traore added his second to give Ajax control.
Traore's finish from Hakim Ziyech's cross made the attacking midfielder the first player in Europa League history to assist three goals in a semi-final or final.
He was central to much of Ajax's good work in a match which was far from a cagey first-leg affair, with the sides sharing 37 shots in all.
Lyon, who have never played in a major European final, will now need to overturn a three-goal deficit in the second leg on 11 May if they are to face either Manchester United or Celta Vigo in the final in Stockholm 13 days later.
The French side were undone by an inswinging free-kick as Traore headed in the opener but their manager, Bruno Genesio, was visibly incensed by the defending for the hosts' second.
Goalkeeper Anthony Lopes lofted a poor clearance which was headed into the path of Dolberg, who raced through to finish with the outside of his foot.
Lopes brilliantly denied Younes when one-on-one before the break but could do little when the German's low drive deflected past him and just crossed the line on 49 minutes.
The crowd inside the Johan Cruyff Arena grew boisterous as their side closed in on a first European final since defeat in the European Cup to Juventus in 1996.
Valbuena's calm finish from 18 yards briefly halted the celebrations, only for Traore to restore the three-goal lead.
Line-ups
Ajax
Formation 4-3-3
- 24Onana
- 2Tete
- 5D Sánchez
- 36de LigtBooked at 30mins
- 4Riedewald
- 10Klaassen
- 20SchöneSubstituted forvan de Beekat 71'minutes
- 22Ziyech
- 9TraoréBooked at 62mins
- 25DolbergSubstituted forNeres Camposat 88'minutes
- 11YounesSubstituted forKluivertat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 16Westermann
- 21F de Jong
- 30van de Beek
- 33Boer
- 34Nouri
- 45Kluivert
- 77Neres Campos
Lyon
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Lopes
- 13JalletSubstituted forda Silvaat 69'minutes
- 3Nkoulou
- 5Diakhaby
- 15Morel
- 29TousartSubstituted forGhezzalat 58'minutes
- 21GonalonsBooked at 40mins
- 27CornetSubstituted forLacazetteat 76'minutes
- 8Tolisso
- 28Valbuena
- 18Fekir
Substitutes
- 2Yanga-Mbiwa
- 10Lacazette
- 11Ghezzal
- 12Ferri
- 14Darder
- 20da Silva
- 30Gorgelin
- Referee:
- Gianluca Rocchi
- Attendance:
- 52,141
Match Stats
Home TeamAjaxAway TeamLyon
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home24
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home16
- Away8
- Corners
- Home6
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ajax 4, Lyon 1.
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Corner, Lyon. Conceded by Kenny Tete.
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Attempt missed. Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Kenny Tete.
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Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Anthony Lopes.
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Attempt saved. Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt saved. Davy Klaassen (Ajax) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the centre of the goal.
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David Neres (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jérémy Morel (Lyon).
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Attempt blocked. Corentin Tolisso (Lyon) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jérémy Morel.
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Bertrand Traoré (Ajax) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Rafael (Lyon).
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Foul by Bertrand Traoré (Ajax).
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Corentin Tolisso (Lyon) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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David Neres (Ajax) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Mouctar Diakhaby (Lyon).
Substitution
Substitution, Ajax. David Neres replaces Kasper Dolberg.
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Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon).
Post update
Foul by Justin Kluivert (Ajax).
