Thursday February 16, 2012 Last 32 Finished Amsterdam ArenA

Ajax 0 - 2 Manchester United

  • Young 59’
  • Hernández 85’

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  1. Slick United take charge against Ajax

    Slick United take charge against Ajax

    Goals from Ashley Young and Javier Hernandez gave Manchester United a 2-0 win at Ajax in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 clash. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Ajax
    • Manchester United
    • - Thanks for joining me for that game. Good solid win for United, who kept their cool under pressure. Next up it's the other Manchester giant against Porto, the defending champions. Should be a cracker - meet me on that matchcast in a minute! FOLLOW ON TWITTER!
    • 90+3 Full time and a comfortable win for United, who were excellent in the second-half.
    • 90+2 Goal kick for United when Ajax wanted a corner.
    • 90+1 Three minutes added time being played.
    • 90' Poor goal kick from De Gea as he slips, now Sulejmani runs in but instead of taking it close in he tries a lob and sends it well over!
    • 89' Ajax have a corner after a decent low save from De Gea. Eriksen with the effort. The corner sees a defender head over.
    • 88' Rooney picks it up on the left and tries a lob but that is well over.
    • 87' Alderweireld late on Fabio and he is booked.
    • 87' UNITED SUB: Valencia picked up a knock in that counter and is replaced by Welbeck. Worrying for United.
    • 86' GOAL UNITED! Scintilating counter-attack started by Valencia as Rooney races away down the left, sliding a superb fizzing low pass between Alderweireld's legs to complete a brilliant one-two with Hernandez who rattles the finish home. Wonderful goal.
    • 85' Sulejmani tries one from distance after a good spell of possession but straight at De Gea, who holds well.
    • 84' Eriksen with some nice skill and Vertonghen bombs forward only to run into Evans. United can break but the elect to hold possession. Welbeck is warming up...
    • 83' Anita thinks he was checked by Fabio but the Italian ref - who has been excellent - laughs him off.
    • 82' De Gea does well to launch a hospital backpass upfield, his counterpart Vermeer also laid a boo-boo by his defence but kicking long.
    • 81' Good low cross from Van Rhijn but cleared calmly by Carrick Now Anita on the move but he runs it out. United backing off like the first half.
    • 80' AJAX SUB: Ozbiliz off for Lukoki. DR Congo-born Dutch youth forward.
    • 80' Hernandez fouls Vertonghen who when wronged is only too happy to cry foul.
    • 79' Rooney with a crossfield pass for Valencia but an English first touch from him as it flies through his foot and out of play.
    • 78' They do clear the corner and counter at pace as Vertonghen of all people surges forward but hoofed clear by Evans. Earlier Ajax wanted handball against Hernandez but it was a ludicrous claim.
    • 78' Hernandez again gets in down the right, good slide tackle from Alderweireld and a corner. Ajax want something else, not sure what the whinge is.
    • 77' Ferdinand is not a quick as of yore but he does well to get back and clear to touch. Assuming Young's legs are being rested as he's barely played since Xmas.
    • 76' UNITED SUB: Valencia on for Young, the goal-scorer.
    • 75' Hernandez down the right puts in a tasty low ball but Alderweireld clears with Rooney a touch static.
    • 74' Nice interplay between Nani and Rooney as the former's shot is blocked, almost landing for Hernandez but hacked clear! Ajax break and the roar tells you Eriksen is on the ball, he runs at Jones and Ferdinand who close him down and force the shot which De Gea bats away!!
    • 73' This time Young is fouled by Vertonghen, who gives him a telling off for the earlier one I assume as that was a foul all day.
    • 72' The replay shows that Young made the most of any contact if there was any.
    • 71' Rooney on the charge, he slides Young through, he goes down as he was set to race clear but no foul! Was that a dive?
    • 70' A Vertonghen free-kick is cleared by United with Nani almost getting in down the left but Anita cleaing.
    • 69' Jones with a foul in the midde. Apparently Young is the first United player to score in Europe's secondary club competition since Peter Schmeichel. Well I never.
    • 68' Another long-ranger from Eriksen but weak and easy for De Gea.
    • 67' Eriksen pounces on a loose header from Evans but his shot is blocked by Ferdinand and De Gea gathers to prevent a corner.
    • 66' Ajax with a greater sense of urgency now as they revert to the first-half possession that impressed us earlier.
    • 65' United again have men over as Jones slides it in for NANI but he blasts over! He claims a touch from the keeper but that was just a poor finish. Rooney then tries a lob from some way out but weak and easy for Vermeer.
    • 64' AJAX SUB: Koppers is taken off for Boilesen: like for like at left-back.
    • 63' Young is caught by Aissati, who will do well not to be booked.
    • 62' Ozbiliz fires just over after Fabio dallies on the ball! He cut inside and quickly blasted it over. The Brazilian breathes a sigh of relief.
    • 61' UNITED SUB: Scholes comes on for Cleverley.
    • 60' AJAX SUB: Van Rhijn on for Bulykin.
    • 59' GOAL UNITED! Ashley Young drills home to cool low finish after Nani's low cross was blocked into his path. A touch to step inside on to his right foot and he picked his spot through the keeper's legs.
    • 58' Carrick's flicked header is cleared but only to Rooney. Crossfield to Nani, he finds Jones but the give-and-go stalls with Koppers intervening.
    • 57' Nani wins another corner on the right which the Dutch fans dispute. Ajax haven't been in the United half for a good seven minutes.
    • 56' Young's cross is blocked but only to Cleverley, he lofts it back in, Hernandez is onside as he takes it on the chest but his cut-back is blocked. Corner. Young takes and Vermeer flaps but Ajax survive.
    • 55' A spell of United possession ends when Aissati trips Carrick around 25 yards out, to the left. Free-kick which Nani will whip in. No, Young over it too....
    • 54' United take it short as they, and not Ajax, take charge of possession this half.
    • 53' De Jong with a late tackle and he is booked. Free-kick United 30 yards out...
    • 53' GREAT SAVE VERMEER! Super diving low stop after Nani's cross is flicked bottom-right by a flying Rooney! Corner!
    • 52' As Ajax break, Fabio launches into a tackle on De Jong and is booked immediately.
    • 52' Superb ball from Rooney sends Hernandez clean through, he dances into the box but with Anita right on him he can't dig out the finish and Vermeer blocks!
    • 51' Anita gets forward but a poor cross sails behind for a goal kick.
    • 50' Clear trip on Cleverly by De Jong. Scholes warming up.
    • 49' Ferdinand leaves a high ball thinking he has no-one with him but Bulykin mis-kicks it well wide. Fine pass from Sulejmani.
    • 48' Oooh almost a brilliant break for United as Carrick releases Rooney centre-left, the forward's ball across for Hernandez inadvertently blocked by a defender.
    • 47' The corner is half-cleared for Young back on the left, he spins away from Koppers and Vertonghen completely misses it but so does Carrick!
    • 46' Hernandez with a clever run down the right and his rising drive is tipped over for a corner! A cross or a shot? A shot I think. Fergie's had a word at the break...
    • 46' The second half is underway. No changes for either side.
    • - Well Ajax impressive enough in that first half but United very cagey. What did you make of it? Are United boxing clever or a bit sluggish? Have your say on Twitter @Reda_Eurosport FOLLOW ON TWITTER!
    • 45+1 The half-time whistle goes, Ajax surround the ref but the replay shows that Ferdinand did not make contact with Sulejmani - the Serb got the ball first, it was inside the area, but he flung himself to the turf with no contact after the ball spun up in the air.
    • 45' Bulykin finally gets a touch, on the left though, inside to Sulejmani who goes down just inside the box as Ferdinand meets it, he wants a penalty but play on!
    • 44' De Jong with a testing cross but Jones helps it back to De Gea with his chest. Bulykin has been quiet so far.
    • 43' After that United resurgence the ball is back with Ajax, who keep ball until Hernandez commits a foul in the middle.
    • 42' This is better for United as Fabio gets in down the left, super cross too but Nani can only flick his header well wide. Came off the top of his head. He thinks he was fouled but no-one was near him.
    • 41' Nice ball in from Young but cleared from Hernandez. Now Jones on the right but his flashing, curling cross is cleared by Vertonghen - just.
    • 40' Cheers from the Ajax fans as Hernandez fails to keep it in on the right. He then tries a backheel when a simple touch to Rooney would have sufficed. Carrick spares him the counter with a strong slide tackle.
    • 39' Koppers tries to play Sulejmani through but Jones guides it back to De Gea.
    • 38' Ajax have had four shots on target to United's one.
    • 37' Anita wins the ball in midfield and Eriksen shoots, the ball moving dangerously but De Gea able to claim well.
    • 36' Ajax counter after a Young mistake but the winger tracks to intercept and clear. He releases Cleverley too but the young midfielder blasts his shot well over.
    • 35' Carrick with a neat turn and pass down the left but too much pace on it for Hernandez, out for a throw.
    • 34' Super run and cross from Eriksen down the right but Young shows his defensive ability to get back and block. Corner. Taken short, Eriksen lofts it in and Vertonghen meets but cleared. Now Sulejmani with a super cross but Carrick nicks it away from a rising Bulykin. Now Sulejmani picks it up once more but his cross is headed over by De Jong!
    • 33' GREAT SAVE DE GEA! It opened up for De Jong some way out and he spun a ferocious effort for the top right but the Spanish keeper flew across to tip wide. The corner causes problems as Alderweireld meets it far post but De Gea gathers easily this time.
    • 32' Great ball from Nani to release an onside Hernandez but it skips up on the turf and the extra pace takes it away from the Mexican and into the arms of Vermeer.
    • 31' This is United's best spell as Jones finds space on the right, but is unable to get past Sulejmani.
    • 30' Ferdinand's good defensive header almost trickles out for a corner but De Gea shows good composure to keep it in. Now Jones surges forward but a poor first touch by Rooney allows Vertonghen to clear.
    • 29' Nani in acres of space wide right, Rooney and Hernandez have showed for him but instead of the cut-back he shoots, from a tight angle and terribly so, high and wide. Rooney is furious!
    • 28' United counter from that half-chance and Rooney could be in but cleared by Vertonghen. Then Young is released by Cleverley only for Vermeer to again race out to gather. That is more like it from both sides but still just half-chances.
    • 27' United feel they should have had a free-kick but Anita did not foul Young, says the ref. Ajax come forward as Sulejmani crosses beautifully for Bulykin, nicked away from him and a long-shot from Eriksen flies in but blocked.
    • 26' Now the counter is on for United, Rooney wide to Nani, inside to Hernandez, a short ball to Rooney but Vertonghen challenges and Ajax clear.
    • 25' Finally that spell breaks down as Young sees a loose pass, but he can only knock it out for a throw. Back to Barca, I mean Ajax...
    • 24' A really long spell of possession for Ajax now, using the full width and length of the pitch. Super passing play this, but United are just standing off.
    • 22' Hernandez is onside this time after a nice through-ball from Cleverley but Vermeer is out quickly to gather at his feet.
    • 21' Nani weaves in and out of the left-back Koppers but his cross is headed clear by Vertonghen.
    • 20' De Jong is down hurt after slipping while arcing to reach the ball. Fabio's trickery forced that lunge. Groin or upper thigh, not good.
    • 19' Young with a clever scooped ball to Hernandez, but he is offside. but Cleverly picks it up, now Hernandez on it to slide Rooney in, he shoots from range seeing the keeper off his line but the lob lands nicely for him.
    • 18' That was poor from Jonny Evans, but Koppers should have done better. Nani tracking may have forced him a bit wide on to his left.
    • 17' United decide to get hold of the ball for a minute or so, happy to sit deep and beckon Ajax on. But Evans gives it away, Koppers picks it up and he is through but fires weakly at De Gea!
    • 16' Young is struggling with some kind of knock, I think he picked it up falling.
    • 16' Cleverley with a super ball to release Rooney wide right but his cross - with two blue-black shirts waiting - is poor, clipping off a defender and away. Ajax counter but Ferdinand with a very smart interception to clear.
    • 15' Anita with a quick throw to Eriksen, who wriggles in down the right but is blocked by Ferdinand for a corner. Carrick let him get away there. Nani flicks it clear by the near post.
    • 14' Ozbiliz again in space, back to Anita overlapping and his cross is headed out by Ferdinand.
    • 13' Ajax have dominated possession in the early stages and Ozbiliz gets hold of it once more but his cross is poor, straight at De Gea when he had time and space on the right and big Dmitri to aim at.
    • 12' Foul by Fabio on Ozbiliz. Ajax take it short. Despite the Turkish name, and being born in Istanbul, Ozbiliz plays for Armenia. I assume he has Armenian heritage. A promising move down the left is snuffed out by Ferdinand's header.
    • 11' A very tight offside on Hernandez, who appeared to have held his run perfectly. Carrick I think it was with the long pass.
    • 10' Young's corner is met by Carrick at the near post but it moves away from goal. Young again has it but a poor cross is blocked, Nani tries to work some space but Ajax clear.
    • 9' Evans with a run forward, he finds Young on the left who weaves in and out of Anita, drilling a low cross off him and behind for a corner.
    • 8' Nani in lots of space but he shows too much of the ball to Koppers, who slides it into touch. United retain possession, opting to stroke it about at the back.
    • 7' ... But it's terrible, not even side netting as it curls well behind at the near post.
    • 6' United get forward properly for the first time as Nani wins a corner off Alderweireld following some more incisive passing. Nani to take...
    • 5' United finally get it back after a good two minutes backing off Ajax. Promises to be a cagey affair to start with at least.
    • 4' Ajax with another good period on the ball as Eriksen starts to get a feel for it.
    • 3' Slightly aimless ball from Vertonghen drifts beyond Ozbiliz out of play. Not much in the way of pressing, both sides standing off a bit.
    • 2' Ajax with a spell on the ball for a minute or so. Both sides getting a feel for it in the early stages as De Gea kicks one long.
    • 1' The first half is underway, United holding on to possession from kick off.
    • 17:55 The teams are out - a strong United XI which answers the questions we may have had about how serious they take it...
    • 17:50 @Usef_Os: "its definitely a chance for silverware, a chance to make up a little for losing 2 CL finals in the last 4 years"; @F1mre: "Hi. I think United have to take EL serious after being knocked out of the FA Cup(which they haven't won since '04)"; @Akef_: "jeudi soir, chaine n 5 !" FOLLOW ON TWITTER!
    • 17:45 Waste of time or chance at silverware? What do you think of United's foray into the Europa League? Or are you an Ajax fan sensing a big scalp against a relatively inconsistent Reds side? Have your say on Twitter @Reda_Eurosport. FOLLOW ON TWITTER!
    • 17:40 MATCH ODDS: Ajax 15/4, Manchester United 11/13, Draw 27/10
    • 17:35 Alex Ferguson: "I worry more about Ajax's history than any individual in their team at this moment in time. I respect that history. It's fantastic that Ajax have retained that philosophy for so many years. They play the same style, the stame system, the same tactics. It's fantastic and I respect that. The standard of Dutch sides is always good. Unfortunately the problem is that all the best players want to leave and go on to bigger things."
    • 17:30 Frank de Boer: "It's a big surprise that Manchester United are no longer in the Champions League. We also came close to reaching the next round, but then there was Lyon's win 7-1 in Zagreb. It's a good thing for the tournament though, with Manchester City and other big teams in the Europa League as well. UEFA wanted to raise the level of the Europa League, and that is definitely happening with these teams being involved."
    • 17:25 United team news: Rio Ferdinand is skipper as Patrice Evra is rested after what Sir Alex Ferguson called a "emotional week" for the Frenchman. Ryan Giggs (ankle) also misses out, as does Dimitar Berbatov, who was injured in training on Monday. Nani (foot) and Phil Jones (ankle) return after missing the last four matches.
    • 17:20 Ajax team news: Defenders Andre Ooijer (calf) and Gregory van der Wiel (groin) both miss out, as does forward Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (back).
    • 17:15 Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)
    • 17:10 TEAMS - Ajax: Vermeer, Anita, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Koppers, De Jong, Aissati, Eriksen, Ozbiliz, Bulykin, Sulejmani; Subs: Cillessen, Boilesen, Blind, Lodeiro, Serero, Van Rhijn, Lukoki /// Man Utd: De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Fabio Da Silva, Nani, Carrick, Cleverley, Young, Rooney, Hernandez; Subs: Amos, Smalling, Park, Welbeck, Scholes, Valencia, Pogba
    • 17:05 This is the last-32 of the tournament, where clubs from the Champions League join those from the Europa League. Hello Manchester...
    • 17:00 Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the Europa League clash between Manchester United and Ajax at the AmsterdamArena. It kicks off at 6pm UK time.

  • Summary

    • 90' Poor goal kick from De Gea as he slips, now Sulejmani runs in but instead of taking it close in he tries a lob and sends it well over!
    • 86' GOAL UNITED! Scintilating counter-attack started by Valencia as Rooney races away down the left, sliding a superb fizzing low pass between Alderweireld's legs to complete a brilliant one-two with Hernandez who rattles the finish home. Wonderful goal.
    • 74' Nice interplay between Nani and Rooney as the former's shot is blocked, almost landing for Hernandez but hacked clear! Ajax break and the roar tells you Eriksen is on the ball, he runs at Jones and Ferdinand who close him down and force the shot which De Gea bats away!!
    • 71' Rooney on the charge, he slides Young through, he goes down as he was set to race clear but no foul! Was that a dive?
    • 65' United again have men over as Jones slides it in for NANI but he blasts over! He claims a touch from the keeper but that was just a poor finish. Rooney then tries a lob from some way out but weak and easy for Vermeer.
    • 62' Ozbiliz fires just over after Fabio dallies on the ball! He cut inside and quickly blasted it over. The Brazilian breathes a sigh of relief.
    • 59' GOAL UNITED! Ashley Young drills home to cool low finish after Nani's low cross was blocked into his path. A touch to step inside on to his right foot and he picked his spot through the keeper's legs.
    • 53' GREAT SAVE VERMEER! Super diving low stop after Nani's cross is flicked bottom-right by a flying Rooney! Corner!
    • 52' Superb ball from Rooney sends Hernandez clean through, he dances into the box but with Anita right on him he can't dig out the finish and Vermeer blocks!
    • 46' Hernandez with a clever run down the right and his rising drive is tipped over for a corner! A cross or a shot? A shot I think. Fergie's had a word at the break...
    • 45' Bulykin finally gets a touch, on the left though, inside to Sulejmani who goes down just inside the box as Ferdinand meets it, he wants a penalty but play on!
    • 34' Super run and cross from Eriksen down the right but Young shows his defensive ability to get back and block. Corner. Taken short, Eriksen lofts it in and Vertonghen meets but cleared. Now Sulejmani with a super cross but Carrick nicks it away from a rising Bulykin. Now Sulejmani picks it up once more but his cross is headed over by De Jong!
    • 33' GREAT SAVE DE GEA! It opened up for De Jong some way out and he spun a ferocious effort for the top right but the Spanish keeper flew across to tip wide. The corner causes problems as Alderweireld meets it far post but De Gea gathers easily this time.
    • 29' Nani in acres of space wide right, Rooney and Hernandez have showed for him but instead of the cut-back he shoots, from a tight angle and terribly so, high and wide. Rooney is furious!
    • 17' United decide to get hold of the ball for a minute or so, happy to sit deep and beckon Ajax on. But Evans gives it away, Koppers picks it up and he is through but fires weakly at De Gea!
    • 17:10 TEAMS - Ajax: Vermeer, Anita, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Koppers, De Jong, Aissati, Eriksen, Ozbiliz, Bulykin, Sulejmani; Subs: Cillessen, Boilesen, Blind, Lodeiro, Serero, Van Rhijn, Lukoki /// Man Utd: De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Fabio Da Silva, Nani, Carrick, Cleverley, Young, Rooney, Hernandez; Subs: Amos, Smalling, Park, Welbeck, Scholes, Valencia, Pogba

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.8 7
      Defenders
      5.7 6
      Yellow Card 5.6 6
      5.8 6
      Substitution Out63′ 5.5 6
      Midfielders
      5.7 6
      Yellow Card 5.8 6
      6.9 7
      Strikers
      Substitution Out79′ 5.7 6
      5.8 7
      Substitution Out60′ 5.2 5
      Subs
      Substitution In63′ 4.4 6
      Substitution In79′ 4.5 6
      Substitution In60′ 4.8 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.8 7
      Defenders
      6.1 7
      6.5 7
      6.5 6
      Yellow Card 6.4 6
      Midfielders
      5.8 6
      Substitution Out61′ 6.1 6
      6.3 6
      Goal Substitution Out76′ 6.8 7
      Strikers
      6.9 7
      Goal 7.1 7
      Subs
      Substitution In61′ 6.7 6
      Substitution In76′ Substitution Out86′ 6.9 7
      Substitution In86′ 5.5 6

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