25 May 2017

United win Europa

9:10 am on 25 May 2017

Just days after the deadly terrorist attack in their city, Manchester United have given their fans something to smile about after winning the Europa League final against Ajax Amersterdam.

Manchester United's Paul Bogba (bottom) and Timothy Fosu-Mensah (top) celebrate their Europa win.

Manchester United's Paul Bogba (bottom) and Timothy Fosu-Mensah (top) celebrate their Europa win. Photo: AFP

In an emotional match, United beat Ajax two-nil in Stockholm which qualifies the Red Devils for next year's Champions League.

Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored a goal in each half for United.

There was silence and then applause before the game to honour the victims of Monday's deadly attack at a pop concert in Manchester in which 22 people died.

Both sides then played a final full of pride and passion at the Friends Arena.

Pogba, whose transfer from Juventus was a world-record £89.3 million, opened the scoring in the 18th minute as United won the ball after an Ajax throw-in, the Frenchman's shot taking a wicked deflection to wrong foot goalkeeper Andre Onana and fly into the net.

Mkhitaryan then flicked the ball home early in the second half following a United corner, and with chants of "Manchester! Manchester!" echoing around the stadium, United held on to win the only European trophy missing from the Old Trafford cabinet.

-RNZ/Reuters