Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench to score twice and provide Ruben Amorim with a much-needed win despite another sub-standard display from Manchester United in Plzen.
Hojlund’s fourth and fifth goals under Amorim got United out of jail after a performance that again provides more questions than answers for the Portuguese.
After a woeful opening 45 minutes, United fell behind when another Andre Onana mistake enabled veteran striker Matej Vydra to put Plzen in front.
Hojlund replaced Marcus Rashford – the England international hauled off before he was sent-off after another lacklustre display – and made an immediate impact, netting the equaliser before grabbing the 88th-minute winner.
Rasmus Højlund in the Champions League and Europa League since joining Man United:
🏟 12 games
⚽ 10 goalsHe loves a European night 🤩 pic.twitter.com/xDrqw2Cmne
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 12, 2024
The win moves United up to fifth in the Europa League table ahead of this evening’s later games but they will have to show a marked improvement if they are to make a deep run in the competition.
United well below par in drab first half
For an hour, Amorim must have been wondering what he had signed up for as United toiled against limited opposition.
Time and again the visitors gave the ball away cheaply, struggling to bring any cohesion to their game on what was, admittedly, a difficult pitch.
The first half was largely devoid of any quality whatsoever with Plzen as bad as their illustrious opponents.
The two teams could only muster one decent chance each – Bruno Fernandes running from inside his own half before firing in a shot that drew a smart save from home goalkeeper Martin Jedlicka while, at the other end, Onana watched gratefully as Cheick Souare’s curling effort flashed narrowly wide of his left-hand post.
The dearth of attacking intent in the opening period was best demonstrated by a combined xG of 0.36 – the lowest in the competition this season.
Oh-no Onana
Onana did, at least, shake things up within three minutes of the restart although not in the way Amorim would have wanted.
Having been at fault for two of Nottingham Forest’s goals at Old Trafford at the weekend, the Cameroonian dropped another clanger by attempting a short pass out of his area to Matthijs de Ligt. The ball was well short of the Dutchman, enabling Pavel Sulc to nip in and square it for Vydra to fire home from close range.
Andre Onana won’t want to see that again 🫣
A gift from the United keeper and Reading old-boy Matej Vydra pounces to put Plzen ahead 😱
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/fHlsdddhgp
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 12, 2024
Hojlund introduction changes game
United’s task would have become significantly harder had referee Marian Barbu taken a dimmer view of a needless lunge from Rashford on Plzen full-back Sampson Dweh. Rashford, who was already on a yellow card, escaped and was immediately taken off by Amorim and replaced by Hojlund.
The Dane’s greater intensity pepped United up and, having had one shot saved by Jedlicka, Hojlund grabbed the equaliser shortly after the hour mark.
Not for the first time in recent weeks, the goal was created by the brilliance of Amad Diallo, the Ivorian nutmegging Svetozar Markovic before firing in a shot that was parried by Jedlicka straight into the path of Hojlund who made no mistake.
United were finally looking a threat with VAR rejecting calls for a penalty for a handball by Dweh and Hojlund somehow failing to turn home Fernandes’ excellent left-wing cross.
Substitute Mason Mount ought to have made their superiority count after 76 minutes but, having been played clean through by Diallo, shot weekly at the goalkeeper.
Mount came close again before United netted the winner late on.
Fernandes was the supplier with a free-kick but there was still plenty for Hojlund to do but he was up to the task, taking the ball away from Alexandr Sojka before firing past Jedlicka.
Antony almost added a third late on but was denied by a fine save.
Set piece magic for United 😍
Hojlund gets his second as some ‘Bruno Brilliance’ sets him clear to give Man Utd a late lead 👀
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/FQ2E2Rg8Gs
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 12, 2024
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