Final, 2-0 Manchester United: The referee blows the final whistle. Manchester United wins the 2017 Europa League.
Your 2016/17 UEFA Europa League champions: @ManUtd! 🏆#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/ec9YeFe7yR
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 24, 2017
#MUFC hold their prize aloft! #UELfinal 🏆 pic.twitter.com/iUIKLlo5GA
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 24, 2017
There she is! Manchester United hoist the Europa League trophy for the first time. #UELfinal https://t.co/hSKM8qial0
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 24, 2017
The Red Devils have made Manchester smile again with the victory. Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan provided the goals, in a game that lacked excitement and quality … perhaps by Mourinho’s design. We expected much more from Ajax’s highly-touted and youthful attack, but Manchester United stifled and contained the Dutch side throughout.
1 – Jose Mourinho is the first manager to win both the European Cup/CL (2) & UEFA Cup/Europa League (2) more than once. Winner. pic.twitter.com/8qouf1cC3y
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 24, 2017
31% – Last three managers to win a European final with 31% or less possession:
Mourinho – 2010
Simeone – 2012
Mourinho – 2017
Methodical. pic.twitter.com/H5GNzoXRcy— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) May 24, 2017
Despite finishing sixth in the Premier League standings, Manchester United earned a place in next season’s Champions League and completed its European trophy set.
5 – Manchester United are the fifth team to win all three major European trophies (UEFA Cup/EL, CL/European Cup & CWC). Champions. pic.twitter.com/YnERYHX4Xu
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 24, 2017
That’s all for now, and thanks for joining us. Let’s discuss this one on Twitter @NESNsoccer and Facebook. Be sure to keep an eye out for some news, fan reactions, analysis and opinion coming up on NESN.com/soccer.
90th minute, 2-0 Manchester United: There will be a minimum of four minutes of added time in the second half.
89th minute, 2-0 Manchester United: Manchester United makes its final substitution, with Wayne Rooney replacing Juan Mata.
90+1' – Valencia presents Rooney with the captain's armband as he enters the action. We're into four minutes of added time. #MUFC #UELfinal
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 24, 2017
Wayne Rooney equals Ryan Giggs' record of appearing in four European finals for Manchester United.
— Richard Jolly 🇺🇦 (@RichJolly) May 24, 2017
This is expected to be Rooney’s final appearance for Manchester United.
87th minute, 2-0 Manchester United: Jesse Lingard breaks free toward goal, but Davinson Sanchez tracks him down and shoulders him off the ball inside Ajax’s penalty area.
.@JesseLingard loses a footrace with Sanchez! #beINUEL #UELFinal pic.twitter.com/r63yCO5A7Y
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) May 24, 2017
86th minute, 2-0 Manchester United: Ajax hasn’t done enough with its possession.
Ten mins left and Ajax have had 68percent possession and Romero hasn't made a save. Evidence, once again, what a limited yardstick it is.
— Ian Ladyman (@Ian_Ladyman_DM) May 24, 2017
84th minute, 2-0 Manchester United: Anthony Martial replaces Marcus Rashford, as Manchester United makes its second substitution.
82nd minute, 2-0 Manchester United: Ajax makes its final substitution, with Jairo Riedewald exiting and Frenkie de Jong entering.
80th minute, 2-0 Manchester United: Ajax is dominating possession but can’t break through Manchester United’s defense, as is the case in Donny Van de Beek’s blocked shot.
78th minute, 2-0 Manchester United: The referee shows Jairo Riedewald a yellow card.
77th minute, 2-0 Manchester United: The referee shows Juan Mata a yellow card for a malicious tackle on Matthijs de Ligt.
74th minute, 2-0 Manchester United: Jesse Lingard replaces Henrikh Mkhitaryan in Manchester United’s first substitution.
Job done from Henrikh Mkhitaryan. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/hprVK13RAm
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) May 24, 2017
70th minute, 2-0 Manchester United: Donny Van de Beek enters, and Lasse Schone exits in Ajax’s second substitution.
Joel Veltman is now the oldest Ajax player on the pitch vs. Man Utd.
He's 25. 😳 pic.twitter.com/nHQnj9rznz
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 24, 2017
65th minute, 2-0 Manchester United: Marouane Fellaini has a golden scoring opportunity but he heads his shot straight at Andre Onana from close range.
64th minute, 2-0 Manchester United: Ajax’s Amin Younes is shown a yellow card for tugging Antonio Valencia’s jersey.
62nd minute, 2-0 Manchester United: Kasper Dolberg exits and David Neres enters, as Ajax makes its first substitution.
SUB: Neres (in) – Dolberg (out) (Ajax). #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/wXqt7iPpW2
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 24, 2017
Kasper Dolberg was cited as Ajax’s danger man before the game but his Europa League final was a dud.
Pure class. Kasper Dolberg. ✨#UELfinal #ajaman pic.twitter.com/YDfCi50PN2
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) May 23, 2017
58th minute, 2-0 Manchester United: The referee shows Joel Veltman a yellow card for a foul on Juan Mata.
52nd minute, 2-0 Manchester United: The referee shows Fellaini a yellow card for sliding through Lasse Schone.
48th minute, 2-0 Manchester United: Henrikh Mkhitaryan doubles Manchester United’s lead just minutes after the restart.
Smalling rises to meet a corner and Mkhitaryan, back to goal, lifts the ball over his shoulder and into the roof of the net. #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/LTl9qTn8Ef
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 24, 2017
The goal from a corner kick, as the Armenian pounced on Chris Smalling’s knock-down and spectacularly flicked it past Andre Onana.
The moment @HenrikhMkh made it 2-0 to #MUFC in the #UELfinal. pic.twitter.com/ZGawStkpnD
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 24, 2017
Mkhitaryan doubles United's lead with an overhead flick Zlatan would be proud of. Ajax are in trouble! #UELfinal https://t.co/496O6UqorI
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 24, 2017
Mkhitaryan is thriving in the Europa League.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has scored 6 goals in his last 9 EL appearances and is now Man Utd’s top scorer in the competition this season #UELfinal
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) May 24, 2017
5 – Five of Henrikh Mkhitaryan's last six Manchester United goals have come in the Europa League. Specialist. pic.twitter.com/EYQP7nhYGI
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 24, 2017
46th minute, 1-0 Manchester United: The second half of the Europa League final is under way.
Halftime, 1-0 Manchester United: That’s the end of the first half. The Red Devils lead by a goal.
Paul Pogba’s 18th-minute deflected goal represents the difference in scoreline in this tightly contested Europa League final. Manchester United enjoyed the better start, but Ajax seized and held the initiative for much of the ensuing half hour. A neutral fan’s delight this was not.
1 – In the last 20 first half minutes of Ajax v Manchester United there was only one shot (Hakim Ziyech, outside box, blocked). Stalemate.
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) May 24, 2017
Manchester United can preserve its lead by maintaining its level of focus and improving its possession play in the second half. Ajax will need Kasper Dolberg and his fellow attackers to conjure up something special in order to breach the Red Devils’ resolute defense.
Kasper Dolberg leads Ajax with 22 goals this season.
He had 9 touches in the 1st half, the fewest of any player on the field. #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/SyryLs1GCz
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 24, 2017
42nd minute, 1-0 Manchester United: Despite trailing, Ajax seems to be ending the half stronger than Manchester United. Peter Bosz’s team is dominating possession and finding openings in Manchester United’s midfield to exploit.
Mourinho claps his hands in frustration as Manchester United just start to allow Ajax too much time on the ball.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) May 24, 2017
36th minute, 1-0 Manchester United: Bertrand Traore bolts into Manchester United’s penalty area on the dribble, but Daley Blind blocks and clears his shot before it can reach Sergio Romero.
36th minute, 1-0 Manchester United: Ajax is showing more impetus and increasing the tempo in its passing, but Manchester United has comfortably absorbed the Dutch side’s surge.
31st minute, 1-0 Manchester United: The referee shows Henrikh Mkhitaryan a yellow card after the Manchester United midfielder unfairly blocks Joel Veltman.
24th minute, 1-0 Manchester United: Antonio Valencia charges up Manchester United’s right side and shoots powerfully on goal, but Andre Onana bats his shot away.
20th minute, 1-0 Manchester United: Ajax needs more form star forward Kasper Dolberg if it is to recover from Paul Pogba’s goal.
1 – Kasper Dolberg's first touch in the Europa League final was the kick-off after Paul Pogba's goal. Isolated. pic.twitter.com/6cvkiwle4y
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) May 24, 2017
18th minute, 1-0 Manchester United: Paul Pogba scores a deflected goal, and the Red Devils lead.
The Manchester United midfielder shot from the edge of the Ajax penalty area. Defender Davinson Sanchez deflected Pogba’s shot, and goalkeeper Andre Onana had little chance to stop it.
Fellaini squares to Pogba on the edge of the box. Pogba taps it onto his left foot & hits a shot that deflects up and over Onana.#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/kSTnFp39tN
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 24, 2017
Breakthrough for #MUFC. #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/P1VewQjcyC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 24, 2017
POGBA! Man United's record signing gives them the early lead in the #UELfinal. https://t.co/Ii4k6FcV2M
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 24, 2017
Pogba might have returned to peak form at the right time.
2 – Paul Pogba has now scored in back to back games for Manchester United after a run of 19 games without a goal. Timely. pic.twitter.com/ySzNtNpTHd
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 24, 2017
Pogba celebrates giving Man. United the lead in the #UELfinal. pic.twitter.com/xiyNu0Mad1
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 24, 2017
15th minute, 0-0: Bertrand Traore shoots from a tight angle, but Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero is well-positioned at the near post and saves the Ajax forward’s effort.
13th minute, 0-0: Ajax has struggled in possession early on, but Manchester United hasn’t punished the Dutch side’s sloppiness with its direct approach.
10th minute, 0-0: Juan Mata nearly finds Marouane Fellaini with a powerful cross inside the Ajax goal mouth, but the big Belgian can’t connect with his teammate’s delivery.
Third minute, 0-0: Marcus Rashford takes another early shot for Manchester United, but Matthijs de Ligt blocks it.
First minute, 0-0: Manchester United’s Paul Pogba half-volleys a shot wide in an early attempt at the Ajax goal.
Kickoff: The minute of silence was observed impeccably, and the 2017 Europa League final is under way.
Both teams observe a moment of silence before kickoff for the victims of Monday's tragedy in Manchester. #UELfinal https://t.co/BE131YISV7
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 24, 2017
In our hearts. pic.twitter.com/O97mhkLsUW
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 24, 2017
The scene at kick-off. Incredible atmosphere inside the Friends Arena… #UELfinal LIVE: https://t.co/2XuKIuot5T 🏆 pic.twitter.com/YnxH6X68tP
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 24, 2017
Pregame: The Europa League final is expected to be a contrast in styles — Ajax playing an expansive and inventive game, with Manchester United opting for a conservative and pragmatic approach — and also a contest between youth and experience.
.@AFCAjax_EN
Ave. age of starting XI – 22
7 players aged 23 or under@ManUtd
Ave. age of starting XI – 27
10 players aged 24 or over#MUFC pic.twitter.com/cBNyrbUdiE— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) May 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/AFCAjax_EN/status/867449567578648576
Win or lose, Ajax’s Matthijs de Ligt already has set a record in this game.
https://twitter.com/AFCAjax_EN/status/867436469731954688
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has surprised many with his center-back pairing. With Eric Bailly suspended, Daley Blind, an Ajax academy product, will partner with Chris Smalling. Phil Jones must settle for a place on the bench.
2:15 p.m.: Here are the lineups and expected formations:
TEAMS: Here are the lineups for the #UELfinal… pic.twitter.com/HOARIjFihh
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 24, 2017
Manchester United
Will this XI deliver Man United's 1st ever Europa League title and get them back in the Champions League? #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/fdZbJ84SBE
— FS1 (@FS1) May 24, 2017
Take a look inside the @ManUtd dressing room… #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/6pI5xIU9jy
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 24, 2017
Ajax
Can Ajax win their 1st major European title in 22 years? This is the lineup that will try to get it done. #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/QEi6mJhX0M
— FS1 (@FS1) May 24, 2017
Take a look around the @AFCAjax dressing room…
Where to watch the #UELfinal: https://t.co/2XuKIuot5T pic.twitter.com/3KNoZquAqM
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 24, 2017
2 p.m. ET: Manchester United and Ajax are gunning for modern-day European glory.
The storied clubs will meet Tuesday at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, in the 2017 UEFA Europa League final. The winner will earn the prestigious trophy and, more importantly, a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League group stage.
The prize that awaits the #UELfinal winners… 🏆 pic.twitter.com/0gAlKjFULQ
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 24, 2017
The Europa League final comes two days after the terrorist attack at Manchester Arena in which a suicide bomber killed 22 and hospitalized at least 59 following an Ariana Grande concert. Manchester United will wear black armbands, and the teams will observe one minute’s silence prior to kickoff.
Afterward, Manchester United will pursue its twin missions: to make Manchester smile again, as it heals from the concert bombing, and to win the only major European trophy it has never claimed
Join us right here for all the action from Friends Arena.
The Friends Arena is ready for tonight's #UELfinal. pic.twitter.com/uiGwlwilv2
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 24, 2017
Thumbnail photo via YouTube/NBC Sports
