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Hojlund stars as the visitors toil

Rachel07 mins


Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench to score twice to give Ruben Amorim a much-needed win despite another substandard performance from Manchester United in Plzen.

Hoylund’s fourth and fifth goals under Amorim let United out of jail after a display that once again leaves more questions than answers for the Portuguese.

After a dismal opening 45 minutes, United fell behind when another mistake by Andre Onana allowed veteran striker Matej Vydra to put Plzen in front.

Hoylund replaced Marcus Rashford – the England international retired before being sent off after another miserable display – and made an immediate impact, scoring the equalizer before grabbing the 88th-minute winner.

The win moves United up to fifth in the Europa League table ahead of today’s later games, but they will need to show marked improvement if they are to make a deep run in the competition.

United well below par in an even first half

For an hour, Amorim must have wondered what he had signed as United toiled against limited opposition.

Time and again the visitors gave the ball away cheaply, trying to bring consistency to their play on an admittedly difficult pitch.

The first half was largely devoid of quality with Plzen as poor as their illustrious opponents.

The two teams could only muster one decent chance each – Bruno Fernandes raced through the half before firing in a shot that saw a smart save from home keeper Martin Jedlicka while, at the other end, Onana looked on gratefully Cheick Souare’s attempt at curling. too wide from his left position.

The lack of offensive intent in the opening period was best demonstrated by a combined xG of 0.36 – the lowest in the competition this season.

A-about Onana

Onana, at least, shook things up within three minutes of the restart, though not in the way Amorim would have liked.

Having been responsible for two of Nottingham Forest’s goals at Old Trafford at the weekend, the Cameroonian pulled off another clanger by attempting a short pass from outside his area to Matthijs de Ligt. The ball was wide of the Dutchman, allowing Pavel Sulk to step in and square for Vydra to fire home from close range.

The introduction of Hojlund is a game changer

United’s task would have been made much more difficult had referee Marian Barbou taken a dim view of a pointless tackle from Rashford on Plzen full-back Samson Dwe. Rashford, already on a yellow card, got away and was immediately taken away by Amorim and replaced by Hoylund.

The Dane’s increased intensity boosted United and, having parried a Jedliska shot, Hoylund grabbed an equalizer just after the hour mark.

Not for the first time in recent weeks, the goal was set up by the brilliance of Amad Diallo, Ivorian nutmeg 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 appeals for a penalty for Dve’s handball and Hoylund somehow failed to turn in Fernandes’ excellent cross from the left.

Substitute Mason Mount should have made his superiority count after 76 minutes but, after being cleared by Diallo, he shot every week at the keeper.

The Mount went close again before United grabbed a late winner.

Fernandes was the supplier with a free-kick, but there was still plenty for Hoylund to do, but he was on target, dispossessing the ball from Aleksandr Soika before firing past Jedliska.

Antony almost added a third late on but was denied by a fine save.



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