Soccer-Traore brace puts Ajax on course for final
AMSTERDAM May 3 Bertrand Traore scored twice to help Ajax Amsterdam to an enthralling 4-1 win over Olympique Lyonnais in the Europa League semi-final first leg on Wednesday which left them on the brink of their first European final since 1996.
The Burkinabe forward, on loan from Chelsea, headed Ajax in front after 25 minutes and Danish teenager Kasper Dolberg fired the second past Anthony Lopes nine minutes later.
Amin Younes added a third early in the second half, Mathieu Valbuena pulled one back for the French visitors and Traore fired in from close range for Ajax's fourth in the 71st minute.
Four-times European champions Ajax, playing flowing football, had plenty of chances to add to their tally as Lyon went looking for a second away goal and left themselves exposed.
The Dutch side's last European final appearance was in the 1996 Champions League when they lost to Juventus on penalties.
Spanish side Celta Vigo host Manchester United in the first leg of the second semi-final on Thursday. (Writing by Brian Homewood, editing by Ed Osmond)