Prime News Ghana

Man Utd clinch first Europa League trophy with 2-0 win over Ajax

By Jeffrey Owusu-Mensah
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Manchester United clinched their first ever Europa League title after defeating Dutch giants Ajax 2-0 victory in Wednesday's final in Stockholm.

Goals from Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan secured the trophy and a route back into the Champions League group stage for next season, while bringing some joy to fans in what has been a very difficult week for the English city.

Manager Jose Mourinho – who last won this trophy with Porto in 2003 – spoke before the game of how United players were struggling to put the tragedy at home out of their minds, but they were the better side in the opening exchanges and went ahead to make their early domination count through Pogba's deflected shot in the 18 minute.

The strike, Pogba's second for United in his last two games after going 19 games without a goal, put his team in firm control of the game leaving Ajax to play into United's strategy.

The Dutch side, playing in their first European final since losing to Juventus in the Champions League in 1996, did not look like anything like a side which had scored five goals across two legs against both Schalke and Lyon.

And three minutes after recess, they were 2-0 down after Mkhitaryan netted his sixth goal in the competition this season.

Mkhitaryan who had been anonymous for most parts of the first half forced the ball home after Chris Smalling's header from a corner had been blocked.

Though Ajax had the most of possession, they failed to make it count and United held on to join Juventus, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Ajax themselves as the only clubs to have won every other UEFA club competition.

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