Ajax 1-3 Anderlecht

Anderlecht qualified for the last 32 of the Europa League in style with a thumping victory at Ajax to pip the Amsterdammers to top spot in Group A.

Heading to Holland in second place in the pool, two points clear of Dinamo Zagreb, Herman van Holsbeeck's side knew a draw would be good enough to see them advance to the knockout phase.

But the Belgian outfit went one better thanks to goals from Romelu Lukaku (two) and Jonathan Legear. Urby Emanuelson grabbed a late consolation for the hosts but it was not enough to prevent Anderlecht claiming top spot on head-to-head record.

Marko Pantelic fired the game's opening shot wide for Ajax in the 10th minute, but three minutes later Martin Jol's side were behind.

Mbark Boussoufa's free-kick from the left channel was met by Lukaku, who directed his header past Maarten Stekelenburg.

Lukaku doubled his personal tally midway through the first half with another header, this time getting on the end of Legear's cross from the right.

Boussoufa almost put the Belgian outfit three up five minutes before the break, but saw his fierce 30-yard attempt crash against the bar.

Siem De Jong fired wide moments later for the hosts, but the main attacking threat remained at the other end.

Legear latched onto Boussoufa's cross and got his shot away well, only to see his effort blocked by Stekelenburg.

The third goal duly arrived a minute before the interval, Legear slotting into the bottom-right corner from close range.

It could even have been worse for Ajax with Stekelenburg saving well to keep out an Ondrej Mazuch header from Boussoufa's free-kick 20 minutes from time.

The home team reduced the deficit in the 78th minute when De Jong fed Emanuelson, who coolly found the bottom-left corner with his shot.

Jol had introduced Dennis Rommedahl just before the hour and then Demy De Zeeuw and Luis Suarez late in the second period in a bid to find a route back into the game.

Rommedahl almost had the desired effect in stoppage time with a long-range right-footed effort, but the Danish winger was denied by the upright and Ajax were left frustrated.