Man U, Ajax edge into Europa final

Manchester United and Ajax set up a Europa League final later this month with aggregate victories in their semifinal second-leg matches yesterday.

United followed a 1-0 win at Celta Vigo with a 1-1 draw against the Spanish side at Old Trafford in a match which ended with both sides having players sent off.

Ajax fell 3-1 at Olympique Lyon after also having a man sent off but progressed 5-4 on aggregate following their 4-1 win at home in the first leg.

Ajax, now appearing in their 10th European final, play United in Stockholm on May 24 when the Premier League side will be aiming for a first Europa League/ UEFA Cup title, the only major trophy they have yet to win.

Paul Pogba, Eric Bailly, Daley Blind and Antonio Valencia all returned for United after being rested against Arsenal with manager Jose Mourinho selecting the same starting XI that won in Spain.

Celta, playing their first European semifinal, began brightly but it was United who struck when Marcus Rashford floated the ball in to Maroune Fellaini, who headed in at the far post in the 17th minute.

Celta levelled with five minutes of regular time left when, after a short corner, a cross from the right found defender Facundo Roncaglia who headed in.

It led to some heated last minutes with United’s Eric Bailly and Facundo Roncaglia both shown red cards following a scuffle involving several players in the centre of the pitch.

In Lyon, Kasper Dolberg gave Ajax a 27th-minute lead with a neat chip over keeper Anthony Lopes but the Dutch visitors were stunned by two goals just before halftime.

First Alexandre Lacazette scored from the penalty spot and just over a minute later was on hand to steer the ball over the line in front of goal from a cross.

Ajax came close when substitute Donny van de Beek struck the corner of bar and post in the 78th minute, only for Lyon to score a third when Rachid Ghezzal headed in three minutes later, just four minutes after coming off the bench.

Ajax defender Nick Viergever was dismissed for a second booking in the 84th minute following a foul on the edge of the box, but the Dutch side held on to reach the final.