AJAX 0, MAN UNITED 2
As Manchester mourns the victims of Monday’s terrorist attack in one of the city’s darkest ever weeks, United provided some cheer by lifting the Europa League.
UEFA’s decision to go ahead with the final at Stockholm’s Friends Arena and not bow to bombers was vindicated as United won the piece of silverware that could be worth £70million to the Reds.
With victory comes a coveted place in the Champions League with all the riches that go with competing in Europe’s premier club competition.
Paul Pogba’s early goal and a second-half strike from Henrikh Mkhitaryan proved decisive as Jose Mourinho completed his first season as United manager with a treble.
It may a poor man’s version of the 1999 treble, but the Europa League, EFL Cup and Community Shield is a decent return from Jose Mourinho’s first season as manager.
And though United claimed a Champions League place by the backdoor after finishing outside the Premier League’s top four, they will mix it with Europe’s elite again next season after missing out in the current campaign.
Though Ajax’s young side – the average age of their side was 22 years and 282 days – played some sparkling football and dominated possession – they had more than two third – Mourinho’s men proved the worth of experience and having a manager who relishes such big occasions.
Juan Mata’s selection was the main surprise as he was preferred to Jesse Lingard in the starting line up.
Daley Blind was preferred to Phil Jones in the centre of defence as the replacement for the suspended Eric Bailly.
Sergio Romero, as expected, was given the goalkeeper’s shirt in front of David De Gea.
Ajax’s only major absentee was left-back Nick Viergever who was suspended.
And it was another young side with Lasse Schone the only player over the age of 25.
Though some of the pre-match entertainment was cancelled as a mark of respect to those who died in the Manchester terrorist attack, there was still a carnival atmosphere in the Friends Arena.
But the minute’s silence became spontaneous applause by both sets of supporters with United supporters chanting Manchester, Manchester.
And there was a lively opening as United had their first chance after only 25 seconds when Ajax keeper Andre Onana collided with defender Joel Veltman and Paul Pogba seized on the opening, but fired wide.
After that initial frenzy, the teams cancelled each other out, though Bertrand Traore forced a straightforward save from Romero after quarter of an hour.
The breakthrough came in the 18th minute, albeit with a huge slice of luck as Pogba’s innocuous shot deflected off Davinson Sanchez and looped over keeper Onana. It was his ninth goal of the season and followed a neat build up as United moved the ball with purpose from a throw in.
United’s confidence surged as Antonio Valentia burst into the box and his fiercely struck angled shot was beaten out bu Onana.
United gained a stranglehold of the game when they added a second goal within three minutes of the restart.
Blind’s corner was headed goalwards by Smalling and Mkhitaryan found the net with a semi-overhead kick from six yards. It was his 11th goal of the season and sixth in 11 Europa League games.
Marouane Fellaini might have added a third goal but could only direct his header straight at Onana from Pogba’s cross.
Ajax had already made two substitutions by the time United made their first change with 16 minutes left when Mkhitaryan was replaced by Lingard.
And there was soon a second as Anthony Martial took over from Marcus Rashford up top.
Lingard had the chance to add a third as he burst clear from half way pursued by two defenders. But just as he was about to shoot, he slipped and tumbled to the ground appealing for a penalty, but in hope rather than convincingly.
There was even a cameo from Wayne Rooney who made his entrance with stoppage time about to begin as he replaced Mata.