Second-half substitute Rasmus Hojlund scored twice as Manchester United fought again to earn a 2-1 win at Viktoria Plzen within the Europa League on Thursday.
The hosts took the lead shortly after half-time, however Hojlund levelled on 62 minutes, six minutes after changing Marcus Rashford, when the Danish striker tapped in Amad Diallo’s deflected shot.
Two minutes from time, he beat Plzen goalkeeper Martin Jedlicka once more with a medical end, turning round his marker after United captain Bruno Fernandes had discovered him contained in the field with a intelligent free-kick.
Matej Vydra, a former Watford, West Brom, Studying, Derby and Burnley ahead, opened the scoring for the hosts with a close-range end three minutes after half-time.
Pavel Sulc discovered Vydra dealing with an empty internet after he had intercepted United goalkeeper Andre Onana’s go contained in the field.
The objective was a wake-up name for United supervisor Ruben Amorim, who made three replacements in its wake, together with Hojlund.
“It was not an important recreation,” mentioned Amorim, earlier than praising the substitutes.
“They modified the sport. They’re there to do this so I am happy with that.”
He added he was proud of the end result: “It was essential not to surrender so that could be a nice message.”
The previous Sporting CP boss changed the sacked Eric ten Hag in November, however the chilly night in Plzen confirmed United nonetheless have some strategy to go.
Each groups got here into the match with 9 factors from 5 Europa League video games, and so they took time to search out their tempo.
Fernandes had the primary shot on the right track half an hour into the sport, however Jedlicka parried his low right-footed effort from the sting of the field.
Onana watched Cheick Souare’s shot curl simply previous the highest nook of his objective two minutes earlier than the break.
United substitutes Mason Mount and Antony have been denied by Jedlicka within the second half, with Mount failing to beat the ‘keeper twice from shut vary.
However Hojlund turned the match on its head to place United in a powerful place for direct qualification to the final 16.
“We did not have a lot time to work on this sort of recreation. We have been controlling the sport however did not have the tempo (within the first half),” mentioned Amorim.
“We wish to enhance and we wish to enhance actually quick,” he added.
United subsequent face Rangers at Outdated Trafford on January 23.
