After quiet opening 25 mins, on-loan Chelsea striker Bertrand Traore flicked a header past Antonio Lopes to give Ajax the lead, which was doubled by Kasper Dolberg's sharp first time finish.
Three minutes after the break Amin Younes made it 3-0 with a deflected effort, and though Mathieu Valbuena pulled one back, Traore slammed in from close range to seal a superb win.
It was an enthralling first leg and a deserved win for Ajax, which left them on the brink of their first European final since 1996.
Burkina Faso international Traore forward, on loan from Stamford Bridge for the season, headed Ajax in front after 25 minutes when he got the faintest touch to Hakim Ziyech's free kick.
Danish teenager Dolberg fired the second past Anthony Lopes nine minutes later, after the goalkeeper had made a poor clearance.
Younes added a third early in the second half - having been denied from close range by Lopes earlier - when his deflected effort crept two yards over the line before being cleared.
Valbuena pulled one back for the French visitors, finishing with aplomb from the edge of the area, but Traore fired in from close range to leave the Eredivisie side within touching distance of the final.
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
Three minutes after the break Amin Younes made it 3-0 with a deflected effort, and though Mathieu Valbuena pulled one back, Traore slammed in from close range to seal a superb win.
It was an enthralling first leg and a deserved win for Ajax, which left them on the brink of their first European final since 1996.
Burkina Faso international Traore forward, on loan from Stamford Bridge for the season, headed Ajax in front after 25 minutes when he got the faintest touch to Hakim Ziyech's free kick.
Danish teenager Dolberg fired the second past Anthony Lopes nine minutes later, after the goalkeeper had made a poor clearance.
Younes added a third early in the second half - having been denied from close range by Lopes earlier - when his deflected effort crept two yards over the line before being cleared.
Valbuena pulled one back for the French visitors, finishing with aplomb from the edge of the area, but Traore fired in from close range to leave the Eredivisie side within touching distance of the final.
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
Ajax moved to the brink of a first European final in 21 years
Reviewed by Debo Olowu
on
May 03, 2017
Rating:
Reviewed by Debo Olowu
on
May 03, 2017
Rating:
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