Soccer: Europa League Final: Pogba, Mkhitaryan’s strikes help Manchester United trounce Ajax 2-0 to win maiden title

English soccer giant Manchester United defeated Netherland’s soccer powerhouse Aja Amsterdam 2-0 in the title clash to clinch their maiden Europa League title at Stockholm on Sunday.

French midfielder Paul Pogba opened the scoring in the 18th minute as his powerful shot took a deflection off an Ajax defender and found the goalkeeper wrong-footed.Henrikh Mkhitaryan then doubled the lead by scoring a goal in the early part of the second half.

The win helped the Red Devils secure a berth in the group stages of the Champions League next year.It was United’s third title of the season, adding to their silverware won in the League Cup and the Community Shield earlier in the season.

A minute’s silence held for the victims of Monday’s suicide bombing at a pop concert in Manchester in which 22 people died turned into applause as chants of “Manchester” and “We’ll Never Die” bellowed out from the English supporters before the match.

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

“We know things like this are very sad all over the world,” said Pogba referring to the attack. “We had to focus. Manchester – we won for them. We played for England, we played for Manchester and we played for them – the people who died.”

“The goal was to win all the way through this season. We’ve done it, and we’re proud,” said Pogba. “People say we’ve had a bad season but the prize is great and we’ve done it now. We have three trophies so enjoy it now,” he added.

United’s triumph followed success in the League Cup and the Community Shield in Jose Mourinho’s first season in charge at Old Trafford with Champions League football secured after United could only manage a sixth-place finish in the Premier League.