Ajax 0-2 Man United: Red Devils high and mighty in Amsterdam

Manchester United were comfortable 2-0 winners in the first leg of their Europa League round of 32 match with Ajax.

Sir Alex Ferguson fielded a strong team at the Amsterdam Arena, with Tom Cleverley a welcome addition after his lengthy injury lay-off.

And the Red Devils have put themselves in strong position to qualify for the next round with their efficient display in Holland, although early on Ajax did trouble them.

Their left-back, Dico Koppers, spurned an early chance while Russian striker Dmitri Bulykin proved hard to handle in the opening exchanges.

Siem De Jong brought the best out of David De Gea when his 25-yard effort looked destined to hit the top corner, before Tom Cleverley attempted to produce a similar strike but put his shot into the stands.

And just before half-time the hosts could have had a penalty but Gianluca Rocchi ruled that there was nothing wrong with Rio Ferdinand’s challenge on Miralem Sulejmani.

Five minutes after the break Javier Hernandez was denied by Kenneth Vermeer after a lovely turn and run into the penalty area as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men began to put pressure on their opponents.

The Red Devils gradually started to dominate the game and on 59 minutes the ball broke kindly for Nani. The Portuguese winger crossed the ball low through a mass of bodies to find Ashley Young who, after taking a couple of touches, thrashed the ball into the bottom corner of the net to make it 1-0.

Minutes later Nani had an opportunity to double the lead but after a 180 degree he fired over the bar.

Ajax attempted to respond and Danish starlet Christian Eriksen went close with two strikes, but in the end it was Man United who grabbed the next goal.

And it was in-form Mexican striker Javier Hernandez who got it when he finished off some great build-up play from Wayne Rooney to net his third goal in three games.

The return leg at Old Trafford will take place on Thursday February 23.