Rasmus Hojlund roused himself from the bench to steer Manchester United to a 2-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen and ensure Ruben Amorim’s run of successive defeats came to an end in the Czech Republic.
For much of Thursday night’s contest played in freezing conditions in Bohemia, it looked as though United were staring at the prospect of a first defeat in Europe of the season, after former Burnley striker Matej Vydra pounced on a dreadful mistake from Andre Onana to give the hosts the lead (48).
Amorim looked to his substitutes and summoned Hojlund for the disappointing Marcus Rashford, and the Dane made an instant impact, producing a poacher’s finish after good work from Amad Diallo within six minutes of coming on (62).
Matej Vydra capitalises on a mistake from Andre Onana
Not content with a point, United turned the game around two minutes shy of stoppage time as a disguised free-kick from Bruno Fernandes allowed Hojlund to spin and fire beyond Plzen goalkeeper Martin Jedlicka to propel United up to fifth in the Europa League table.
Amorim told TNT Sports: “We improved during the game. We controlled it in the first half without any great chances. There was a lack of speed and a lack of movement.
“The pitch was difficult to make the connection with the strikers but we controlled it. We then gave a goal away and reacted. We pushed them and we could have scored before we did. It’s important to look at the performance but it’s better to do that with a win.”
Amorim’s side remain unbeaten after six games – winning three of them – while Plzen drop to 15th following their first defeat ahead of Thursday’s remaining fixtures.
Substitutes make the difference in Pilsen
Rasmus Hojlund celebrates his equaliser in Bohemia
Sky Sports’ Ben Grounds:
The Plzen players dropped to the floor at the final whistle. They knew that a chance had escaped their grasp. United became the first team since Barcelona two years ago to win here in Europe.
It meant they jumped up to fifth in the Europa League – and they did so thanks to the changes Amorim made and the goals Hojlund scored.
A penny for the thoughts of Rashford, who toiled for nearly an hour and was hooked on a booking, protected for his own good. His departure from Old Trafford looks more likely by the day.
Marcus Rashford was hauled off with United losing
Hojlund needed to take his opportunity, but so too did Mason Mount and Antony in their encouraging cameos. Onana’s blushes were spared, but once the dust settles on this escape to victory, there will be fresh scrutiny over the United goalkeeper’s decision-making.
His attempted pass seeking Matthijs de Ligt was a gift, gobbled up by Vydra having been served by Pavel Sulc’s pass.
Hojlund’s impact was just what Amorim needed before the Manchester derby and, with games against Rangers at home and away at Steaua Bucharest, it gives them a great chance of securing a top-eight finish.
Hojlund, left, scores his side’s equalising goal
The people of Pilsen were so pleased to have United in town that they even made a special beer to commemorate the occasion.
But it is United who will toast their first victory on the road in Europe since March 2023. What changed in the second half?
“The speed,” added Amorim. “I told the players that we needed more movement in front. They had to feel that we are also a danger in behind and we needed to use the space. The guys who came off the bench helped but we improved not just the way we played but specifically the speed of the game.
“Rasmus is improving. Now he is nearer the goal and he knows the movements he needs to do. He could have scored more this evening but his control is better. We have others on the bench to make an impact and they all did it tonight.”
Fernandes: Mistakes are part of football
United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana reacts to his error
Man Utd captain Bruno Fernandes told TNT Sports:
“It was a good performance overall. I think in the final third we could have kept the ball a bit more, but the man-marking from them was difficult to get away from. Sometimes you just have to pass and run to try to find the gaps in behind.
“In the first half we did it better than in the second half, when we let the game go a little bit in the way that they wanted, a bit more transitional. Then we dealt with that and in the end we got the win.
“We want to play from the back and everyone knows that, then we have to make the right decision on the pitch. Andre [Onana] thought that Matta [De Ligt] could get on the ball but he missed it and they scored a goal.
“It is not about Andre making the mistake, we don’t look at individuals here when something happens on the wrong side. We have huge belief in him. He knows he made a mistake because he is a clever guy, he is going to help us many times and we trust his qualities on the ball.
“Mistakes are part of football. If they don’t happen then goals don’t happen. But we did well to show the resilience to come back and find the victory.”
Opta stats – Never-say-die United
Ruben Amorim became only the third Manchester United manager to win both of his first two matches in major European competition in charge of the club, after Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson
- No side in the Europa League has picked up more points from losing positions than Manchester United this season (7).
- Tonight’s defeat put an end to Viktoria Plzen’s 12-match home unbeaten run in European competition (including qualifiers), with Manchester United the first side to beat the Czech club on home soil since Barcelona in November 2022.
- Bruno Fernandes’ assist for Rasmus Hojlund’s winning goal was the seventh chance he created in this match against Viktoria Plzen – it’s the third time he has created 7+ chances in a major European match for Man Utd, with no other player on record (from 2003/04) doing so even once for the Red Devils.
