Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench to score twice as
Manchester United fought back from a goal down to claim a vital Europa League
win at Viktoria Plzen.
The result lifts Ruben Amorim's side into the top eight
positions that would automatically see them qualify for the last 16 of the
competition.
Hojlund has now scored five times in the competition this
term and sparked a United revival after his second-half introduction.
The 21-year-old forward levelled after some good link-up
play from Antony and Amad Diallo, prodding in from close range when the
Ivorian's initial effort was blocked.
And the Denmark international then drove a low shot into the
bottom-right corner after sprinting on to Bruno Fernandes' clever pass.
Hojlund's intervention spared the blushes of team-mate Andre
Onana, with the United goalkeeper making a significant blunder for the second
consecutive game that contributed to a goal.
There seemed little danger when the Cameroon keeper had the
ball at his feet in his own penalty area but his attempt to pass out to
Matthijs de Ligt was intercepted by Pavel Sulc, who squared the ball to Matej
Vydra to allow the former Watford and Burnley forward to tap into an empty net
from six yards.
Amorim's changes turn the tide
Stability and contentment on and off the pitch remains a key
issue for United.
The sudden departure of Dan Ashworth as
sporting director comes during a period where staff morale has plummeted amid
redundancies and a cost-cutting drive, while new head coach Amorim once again
made multiple changes to his starting XI.
And on a bleak evening in Pilsen, United took more than 30
minutes to offer any genuine threat in an uneventful first half.
Even then, Fernandes' low drive from 25 yards was
comfortably parried to safety by home goalkeeper Martin Jedlicka.
When Manchester United went behind it was far from a
surprise in a campaign that until this fixture had yielded two wins from their
opening five and against opponents who had not lost at home since March.
It was far from the only error of judgement from Onana,
whose inconsistent form 12 months ago was a significant factor in the club's
dismal showing in the Champions League - when they exited the competition at
the group stage.
An early charge out from his line to claim a ball into the
penalty area only succeeded in him smashing into United midfielder Casemiro,
who was making his 100th appearance in major European competition.
With Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkee ineffective in
attack, United's intensity and fortunes only turned around once Hojlund, Mason
Mount and Antony entered the fray.
Mount's movement off the ball and Hojlund's willingness to
run in behind gave United's previously static attacking play a new dimension.
England midfielder Mount twice went close to scoring with
both efforts well saved by Jedlicka.
Ultimately Hojlund's presence rescued his side from a
potentially embarrassing defeat, and secured their first away triumph in Europe
for 20 months.
