Ajax cruise past Anderlecht in Europa League last 32 round
Ajax beat Anderlecht 3-0 in the first leg of the last 32 round of a UEFA Europa League tie at the Stade Constant Vendan Stock on Thursday evening. Goals from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mounir-El-Hamdaoui-c26905 handed the visitors a comfortable away win.
Anderlecht advanced to the knock out round after finishing runners up in Group G, while Ajax advanced after exiting UEFA Champion’s League placed third in the Group stage. Ariel Jacobs played a 4-4-2 formation, with promising youngsters Matias Suarez and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Romelu-Lukaku-c31672 leading the attack for the hosts. Frank De Boer started with a 4-3-3 formation for Ajax.
The visitors started the game threatening the hosts goal with constant attacking play, as the hosts were forced to defend deep inside their half. The first real chance for the visitors came in the 11th minute, when Lorenzo Ebecilio’s fierce shot from 25 yards drifted narrowly past the wide of the left post. Moments later, the hosts came close thanks to Lukaku. Maarten Stekelenberg threw himself low to his right to parry a swift shot wide from the Belgian. Ajax broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute as Alderweireld planted his header into the far corner from 12 yards out, giving the visitors the lead 1-0. Ajax pressed hard for the second goal as they almost snatched another, but Miralem Sulejmani’s shot from the edge of the box was nicely saved by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Silvio-Proto-c33513. Ajax emerged ahead at the half time whistle.
The hosts started the second half positively, as they came close to scoring immediately but http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Eyong-Enoh-c13056 hauled down Mbark Bousouffa in the penalty area. Maricin Wasilewski blazed his spot kick over the bar, as he missed a clear opportunity to equalize. Soon after the miss, the visitors doubled their lead. Siem De Jong’s cross was met by Eriksen, who slotted his left footed shot beyond Proto from six yards out. Moments later, Ajax made it 3-0, courtesy El Hamdaoui. Eriksen whipped a superb cross from the right, and El Hamdaoui struck a firm shot from left of the penalty area beyond Proto.
The hosts were down and out and showed no resilience after the goal, as Ajax cruised to a 3-0 away win. The second leg will be played on 24th February at Amsterdam Arena.
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