THAT WAS ALMOST FIVE! Ajax want it bad! Ziyech has done everything but score tonight, as he's again turned aside, this time a by a healthy combination of luck and reactions from Lopes, who gets his foot out to somehow turn his shot over the bar!
90'
There will be four minutes added on at the end of this match.
88'
David Neres enters the game and replaces K. Dolberg.
The final change of the night is one of ceremony more than anything, as Dolberg gets to make the honourable walk to the touchline, serenaded by these supporters, as he's replaced by David Neres.
86'
There's not a single Ajax player you could have any real complaint with tonight. All over the pitch everyone has gone above and beyond to do their part as they have made a real statement tonight. Lyon have not had an answer for them - they will have some real adjustments to make for the second leg.
84'
STAT: This is the first time a Dutch team has scored 4+ goals in a European final or semi final since Ajax vs Bayern 5-2 in 1995.
82'
It's looking more and more like Ajax will not rest until they score a fifth. There's no telling exactly how Lyon will deny them, either. Klaassen lifts an effort just over the bar at one end, while back the other way De Ligt, just 17-years-old, shoves Lacazette aside impressively. Flawless performance from Ajax, top to bottom, tonight.
81'
Ziyech, who is the first player to record three assists in a single game in a Europa League semi-final or final, comes close to adding a goal to his resume as he gets on the end of a remarkable break from Ajax, but sees his effort deflect behind for a corner!
79'
J. Kluivert enters the game and replaces A. Younes.
Ajax's second change of the night sees Younes replaced, but not before a standing ovation from these home supporters, but Justin Kluivert.
78'
RELENTLESS PRESSURE! Ziyech taking the game over for Ajax. He tees up Van de Beek for a strike, but Lopes does really well to turn it behind for a corner. Pressure stays on and Traore sees a shot blocked behind for yet another corner. Incredible, efficient, ruthless.
Minute
Description
76'
A. Lacazette enters the game and replaces M. Cornet.
Lyon's third and final change finally sees the introduction of Lacazette, with Cornet replaced.
75'
YOUNES CAN'T FINISH! Ajax are all over Lyon once again in attack, looking once and for all to end this tie! Dolberg produces a stunning back-heel for Younes, who has the goal at his mercy, but can't guide an effort beyond Lopes.
73'
END-TO-END THEY GO! Incredibly easy on the eye, this match! Rafael's punishing drive at one end is beaten away by Onana. Back the other way come Ajax as Younes slips through Ziyech, who rounds the keeper, but the angle is too tight for him to get a shot off in the end!
71'
D. van de Beek enters the game and replaces L. Schöne.
B. Traoré has scored a goal for Ajax! Assist by H. Ziyech.
Ziyech picks up his third assist of the night. Three. Three assists for the midfield maestro.
AJAX PULL IT BACK! Sensationally navigated, impressively crafted and emphatically finished - Ajax football to a tee! Klaassen with a clever dink over the top for Ziyech, who powers a delivery across the face of goal, and Traore is on hand to smash it home from a few yards out!
Donny van de Beek comes on to replace Schone for the final 20 minutes.
70'
STAT: Only Romelu Lukaku and Iker Munian have reached five Europa League goals at a younger age than Kasper Dolberg.
69'
Rafael enters the game and replaces C. Jallet.
Lyon's second change of the night sees Rafael replace Jallet.
68'
MASSIVE FROM ONANA! That would have completely turned this tie around! Ajax looking a bit vulnerable at the back for the first time tonight as Ghezzal weaves his way through before playing in Fekir, but Onana does brilliantly to turn him aside!
67'
Back come Ajax, eager to restore their three-goal lead. Younes tees up Ziyech for a strike, but the midfielder flashes an effort just over the bar. Seconds later the hosts are back in attack, but Younes can't beat a well-positioned Lopes.
66'
M. Valbuena has scored a goal for Lyon!
LYON CLAW BACK INTO THE TIE! Schone's defensive header is poor, as he clears straight to Valbuena. The attackers takes it down with his first touch, before guiding a perfect finish into the top corner with his second! That's exactly what the doctor ordered for the visitors!
64'
BEATEN AWAY BY LOPES! Traore comes close to his second of the night, using his feet this time as he tries to pick out the far corner with a well-struck effort, but Lopes parries at full-stretch! Lyon are in a dire state here - there's no way out for them!
62'
B. Traoré gets yellow.
Bertrand Traore becomes the third player booked on the night, the second for Ajax.
60'
Lyon are generating absolutely nothing, desperate to find a way back into the game. It's one-way traffic at the moment as Ajax continue to press with great determination and excitement, eager to put this tie away before their trip to France next week.
58'
R. Ghezzal enters the game and replaces L. Tousart.
Rachid Ghezzal is brought on for Lyon here, replacing Tousart. Lacazette is warming up to, but his time has yet to come.
57'
Lopes called into action again! Dolberg strongly wins the ball from N'Koulou and breaks forward. He cuts inside on his right and blasts a ferocious effort towards goal that Lopes acrobatically keeps out! Exceptional stuff from both striker and keeper!
55'
Ajax have the thirst for goals and there's no quenching it. Every attack sees their thirst grow stronger, and they're having their way with this Lyon defence. Younes nearly gets through again, and has a good look at a shot, but this time the block from Diakhaby is effective to turn the effort aside.
53'
STAT: Ajax are currently enjoying an 11-game unbeaten run in the Europa League proper at home (W8 D3).
51'
In for a fourth?! So very nearly for Dolberg, who pokes the ball away from a defender and threatens to run through, but Lopes is off his line in a hurry to collect! Lyon are in absolute shambles at the back!
49'
A. Younes has scored a goal for Ajax! Assist by H. Ziyech.
Delightful throughball from Ziyech, who bags his second assist of the night.
THAT'S THREE! They keep coming! Younes, who was denied a goal late in the first half, gets it early in the second, latching onto Traore's throughball before just getting his finish across the line, with the aid of a deflection. The Amsterdam outfit are well on their way to Stockholm for the final!
48'
End-to-end action early in this first half as Lyon are forced to open up a bit. They need an away goal to make life less difficult on themselves for the return leg. An early corner comes to nothing for them, before Ajax nearly bag a third, but the ball went just out of play before Tete can pull it back for Dolberg.
46'
Back underway in Amsterdam!
45'
HALF-TIME: AJAX 2-0 LYON.
44'
IT SHOULD BE THREE! That could have possibly put this tie to bed before the end of the first half of the first leg! Younes is played clean through on goal and has only Lopes to beat, but he can't produce the finish Dolberg managed, as he's turned aside smartly by the keeper from point-blank range! Good save, but Younes should be scoring from there.
43'
Sanchez and De Ligt have forged a wall at the back for Ajax. There's no way through for Lyon with these two standing in the way. The duo are showing excellent recognition, awareness and strength as they continue to stand tall, block passage through and put in some exceptional challenges.
41'
Gonalons goes into the book for a cynical foul near the touchline, sliding through Tete and getting none of the ball in order to break up a counter. That looked threatening from Ajax - a professional foul from the Lyon skipper, taking one for the team there.
40'
M. Gonalons gets yellow.
STAT: Kasper Dolberg has scored 20 goals across all competitions this season, more than any other Ajax player.
38'
Lyon are in real danger of falling too far behind. Momentum is firmly on Ajax's side, and this atmosphere is only getting more hostile. Lyon need to dig deep here to pull themselves out of this dangerous stretch and get the game into the interval without any further damage inflicted on them.
36'
For those who watched Ajax's first leg against Schalke, the 2-0 victory made sense. They dominated from start to finish and were lucky not to score seven. That's not been the case here tonight, but the Amsterdam outfit have really grown into it over the first half and have done exceptionally to capitalise on their opportunities.
34'
K. Dolberg has scored a goal for Ajax! Assist by B. Traoré.
THEY'RE RUNNING RIOT NOW! Lopes with a poor clearance out from the back that Traore wins in the air, playing Dolberg through first-time with the header, and the striker produces the most clinical of finishes to power an effort past Lopes and in at the far post! Goalberg for Ajax, as they say in Amsterdam!
Traore picks up an assist to go with his goal, using his head again to get his name on the scoresheet.
32'
STAT: Seven of the last nine goals conceded by Lyon in the Europa League have come in the first half; six of the last seven they’ve let in have come from set-pieces.
30'
M. de Ligt gets yellow.
Lyon break quickly after Diakhaby's interception, and De Ligt is shown yellow for a late foul to break up the move.
SO NEARLY A SECOND! Younes with some exceptional skill in the box to dribble beyond Jallet, making him look silly and confused in the process, and he very nearly serves it up on a plate for Dolberg, but Diakhaby breaks it up!
29'
Tremendous work rate! There's a real spring in the step of these Ajax players! Klaassen, Ziyech and De Ligt cover all sorts of ground as they combine to twice win the ball back on the left flack, keeping Lyon pinned deep in their end. The centre-half De Ligt chases down Jallet and wins Ajax another corner. They're hungry for more.
27'
Listen to them roar! The Amsterdam ArenA has come to life again! It can't be said enough how exceptional the quality of that delivery was from Ziyech, and the touch from Traore absolutely perfect as well. The hosts are full of energy now as they get back in attack once again, winning a corner.
25'
B. Traoré has scored a goal for Ajax! Assist by H. Ziyech.
AJAX DRAW FIRST BLOOD! All of Amsterdam erupts as they score with their first meaningful chance of the half! Ziyech bends in an absolutely sensational delivery from a free-kick and Traore gets the slightest of touches, but that's all he needed, to guide it in at the far post! Lopes had no chance!
That was a delivery of the highest quality from Ziyech to pick out the head of Traore.
23'
Ajax are growing in stature here as they continue in the ascendency. Dolberg is starting to get more involved, holding up the ball well as Ajax force it inside to him. The hosts have had good width about them thus far, but not enough of a presence in the centre. They are keen on changing that.
21'
Lyon are showing good intent here. Ajax get the crowd going when they start to break, but it all seems to be falling apart for them once they cross half. Fekir leads the latest charge for the visitors and it just opens up for him to have a go, but he drags a shot harmlessly wide of the far post.
19'
STAT: Ajax have kept clean sheets in five of their six Europa League matches to have taken place at home this season; recording one in each of their last four at the Amsterdam Arena.
17'
Lyon have another opportunity to threaten from a set-piece, this one level with the top of the box, near the far touchline. Valbuena's delivery can't find the head of a teammate, however, as Ajax deal with the danger. They need to show a bit more going forward now.
15'
If the last five minutes are any indication of what's to come, we should be in for plenty of entertainment tonight. Both these sides love to attack and will do so with reckless abandon when opportunity strikes. The tempo is picking up and both sides are showing good initiative.
13'
Better from Ajax! It's starting to open up now as these sides settle into the match. Ziyech leads a break and nearly slips Dolberg through, but Jallet smartly intercepts. De Ligt quickly wins the ball back, however, and fires a shot on target from 25 yards, but Lopes is up to the task.
11'
FIRST REAL CHANCE! It's Lyon who generate the game's first opportunity in front of goal, as Cornet gets on the end of a tidy pullback, but Onana closes down the angle and gets enough of his leg on the shot to deflect it behind for a corner. The ensuing delivery falls for Gonalons, but he slices an effort miles wide at the near post.
9'
STAT: Ajax have never lost to Lyon; winning both group stage matches against them during the 2002/03 Champions League campaign and recording two draws against the French side in the 2011/12 Champions League group stage.
7'
Lyon win a free-kick on the left in a decent area as Ziyech fouls Gonalons, but the ensuing delivery into the box is dealt with admirably by Klaassen. Ajax look to break quickly, but Traore's attempted switch of play for Younes is errant as Lyon deal with the threat.
5'
Neither side has managed an attack of any note thus far. Ajax have had opportunities to break after winning the ball back in midfield, but while the threat has been there, the end product has not. They haven't picked out the necessary passes to get through. Perhaps nerves a playing a part early on.
3'
Ajax are seeing plenty of the ball in the early stages, but they have yet to really penetrate the Lyon half of the pitch. It's all very contemplative from the hosts in the opening few minutes as they aim to get into a rhythm and get everyone a touch on the ball.
1'
AND THEY'RE OFF! Ajax get the match underway in their white and red home strip, attacking left to right, with Lyon in black on this sunny Amsterdam evening.
Hello and welcome to the Amsterdam ArenA for live coverage of the first leg of this Europa League semi-final as Ajax play host to Lyon!
Both clubs played in quarter-final ties for the ages, with Ajax coming from behind – and a man down – to beat Schalke away in extra-time, while Lyon outlasted Besiktas on penalties. Their resolve has been tested and both passed with flying colours.
For these two sides, the Europa League will be the main focus in the final month of the season. Ajax fell out of the title race last weekend and will likely settle for second, while Lyon are going to have to settle for fourth place in Ligue 1.
Ajax are writing quite a story for themselves this season, rekindling the magic of the days of Bergkamp and Overmars, reaching their first European semi-final in 20 years, and this squad of young starlets is not keen to settle.
Lyon have played some entertaining football their own in the competition, high-flying, attractive, open football. They have scored goals at an impressive rate, steamrolling the majority of the competition, and now have the Dutch giants in their sights.
Peter Bosz has had to reshuffle his back line as Ajax make three changes from the second leg in Gelsenkirchen. Full-backs Joel Veltman and Nick Viergever are suspended, while Daley Sinkgraven remains injured, which sees Kenny Tete and Jairo Riedewald, who has fallen from relevance in Amsterdam this season, come into the team. Kasper Dolberg was limited to a role as a sub in the second leg in Germany, but he's fit to lead the line tonight, as Justin Kluivert drops to the bench.
Bruno Genesio makes just one change from the second leg in Turkey, decided on penalties. Alexandre Lacazette has been deemed unfit to start, which is a blow to the Ligue 1 outfit's attack, as he is relegated to a spot on the bench. Nabil Fekir will deputise in attack, leading the line for Les Gones.
Amsterdam is rocking! This theater of football is buzzing with anticipation as the players make their way out of the tunnel. It's a night to remember in the Dutch capital, as these fans have waited 20 years for their club to return to a European semi-final - but they will be in for a stern test tonight!
Clinical, efficient, decisive. That's the story of the first half from an Ajax perspective, as goals from Bertrand Traore and Kasper Dolberg have them flying high through 45 minutes in Amsterdam, leaving Lyon with a big whole to try and dig out of.
That's all for our live coverage, thanks for following along. Goodbye!
Bertrand Traore bagged a brace, Hakim Ziyech provided a hat-trick of assists, Amin Younes scored and terrorised throughout, and Kasper Dolberg was on the mark as Ajax prove relentless and ruthless as they impress to the tune of a 4-1 victory over Lyon to take a big step towards the final in Stockholm on May 24.
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