Goals from Aras Ozbiliz and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-c4752 Ferguson’s men progress through to round of 16 with an aggregate win of 3-2.
On Thursday, February 23, Ajax Amsterdam recorded a stunning 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in the return leg of UEFA Europa League round of 32.
However, the Red Devils progressed through to the last 16 of the Europe’s second tier competition with an aggregate 3-2 win.
After going down 2-0 in the first-leg at Amsterdam Arena on February 16, the Amsterdam giants needed a miraculous performance in the return leg to seal progression to the next phase. And they did deliver something extraordinary; though, at the end, it was
not enough to book their place in the round of 16.
Both sides started the match in a lively manner with plenty of movement upfront. The Red Devils took the lead in the sixth minute through Javier Hernandez.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dimitar-Berbatov-c11254 played an impressive pass from the centre of the pitch that found Hernandez at the edge of the box, and the Mexican found the back of the net with ease.
Thirteen minutes later, the Red Devils almost doubled their advantage when Hernandez slid a neat pass from the left to Berbatov. However, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jan-Vertonghen-c17814 made a brilliant diving interception to clear the ball for a corner-kick.
As the match progressed, the Amsterdammers started to assert their authority with their impressive passing. Aras Ozbiliz nearly scored the equaliser, but the home side’s goalkeeper, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-de-Gea-c10463, made an impressive save to deny the youngster.
After mounting consistent pressure on the hosts’ back-line, Ajax managed to score the equaliser in the 37th minute. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Siem-de-Jong-c33482 played a pass to Ozbiliz whose powered effort from the edge of the penalty area found the bottom right corner of the
net, much to the dismay of Sir Alex Ferguson.
After the half-time break, Ajax resumed proceedings better of the two sides and looked more threatening. Lodeiro could have given his side the lead, but his effort from the centre of the box sailed over the crossbar.
In the 58th minute, De Jong looked certain to score from a http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-c10409 De Gea made a brilliant save to deny the Amsterdammers from taking the lead.
The Amsterdam giants' quick passing and impressive movement in the United half continued to trouble Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Danny-Welbeck-c10233 tried to find
Hernandez with a pass.
In the 87th minute, Ozbiliz’s free-kick was headed home by Toby Alderweireld to make the score 1-2, thus making the final few minutes a nervy affair for the home side.
However, Manchester United managed to hold on until the final whistle and progressed through to the last 16 of Europa League with an aggregate 3-2 win.
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