Thursday 16/02/2012
Europa League
Manchester United take control of the tie with a professional performance in Amsterdam.
Phil Jones and Tom Cleverley were brought back into the side after lengthy lay offs with injury as United embarked on their first European tie since being knocked out of the Champions League in the group stages against Basel. Chicharito was chosen ahead of Danny Welbeck to partner Wayne Rooney up front as United fielded a strong team.
United were facing an Ajax team that also fell out of the Champions League at the group stage and were fired up for the match at the Amsterdam Arena. However It was a lacklustre start from both sides and despite United controlling the play in the middle of the park, they were incredibly wasteful with possession going forward.
The home side struggled to get a foothold in the game as United slowly began to look more threatening, Nani wasted a golden opportunity, blazing over when a simple pass to Rooney would have left the England forward with a tap in. Ajax created the best chance of the half as David De Gea pulled off a stunning save to deny a 30 yard effort from Siem De Jong.
On the stroke of half time Ajax had a penalty shout as Rio Ferdinand clashed with Miralem Sulejmani on the edge of the area, despite the appeals from the Ajax players, the referee, Gianluca Rocchi, waved play on as the sides were level going into the break.
It had been a tentative half with neither sides able to control the game. This was all about the change as United came out for the second half a different side, bossing proceedings from the off. Their passing was sharper and more fluid as the visitors were soon encamped around the Ajax penalty area in search of the opener. And after Nani had come close and Chicharito had had a penalty appeal turned down, it was Ashley Young who opened the scoring latching onto a deflected Nani cross.
It was not less than United deserved, as they continued too boss the half with Ajax now chasing the game. However the home side rarely troubled De Gea as the defensive pairing of Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans reduced them the speculative efforts from range.
United wrapped up the tie late on as some fine interplay between Antonio Valencia, Rooney and Chicharito saw the Mexican striker squeeze his shot past Kenneth Vermeer to given United a comfortable lead going into the second leg.
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