Ajax crush Lyon in Europa League semi-final first leg

The Dutch team have a great chance to reach their first European final in 21 years thanks to a 4-1 home win.

Traore (middle) celebrates with teammates after scoring the final goal to make it 4-1. Photo: Reuters.

Goals: Traore (25', 71'), Dolberg (34'), Younes (49') - Valbuena (66').

Ajax's star man against Lyon was winger Bertrand Traore, who is on loan from Chelsea. The 21-year-old scored twice and provided an assist, with Traore opening the scoring with a close-range header and finishing with a powerful finish.

In between Traore's two goals were strikes from Kasper Dolberg and Amin Younes. The visitors only managed to get one goal back through Mathieu Valbuena, who finished beautifully from the edge of the box.

The big win puts Ajax one foot in the Europa League final. If it comes to fruition, Ajax will play in their first European final in 21 years. The Dutch side last achieved this in 1996, when they were beaten by Juventus in the Champions League final.

The Ajax-Lyon match was a display of attacking football with 37 shots in total. However, on a day when the defence was lacking concentration, Lyon paid a heavy price. Ajax benefited from at least two of the four goals that came from Lyon losing possession at home.

Lyon are still on the hunt for their first major European final, needing a 3-0 home win or more than four goals in the return leg.

In Ajax's attacking play, playmaker Hakim Ziyech played a big role, contributing with three assists. This is the first time in Europa League history that a player has successfully provided three assists in a semi-final or final.

The winner of Ajax and Lyon will face the winner of Man Utd and Celta Vigo in the final on May 24.

According to VNE