Viktoria Plzen 1 Man Utd 2: Hojlund scores twice off bench after Onana blunder to boost automatic qualification hopes

RASMUS HOJLUND produced a dramatic second-half double to dig Manchester United out of trouble and give them victory in the Europa League.

United had gone behind just three minutes after the break thanks to another Andre Onana howler.

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But after coming on as 56th minute sub Hojlund scored in the 62nd and 88th to give the Red Devils their first away win in Europe since March 2023.

Hojlund's Premier League record may not be one to shout about for United but he loves it in Europe.

This pair makes it 10 goals in 12 appearances plus an assist.

It lifted some of the gloom hanging over the club and also means they have a foot in the next stage of the Europa League.

Things changed after a raft of substitutions early in the second half for United, which gave them a much-needed confidence boost ahead of Sunday’s derby at The Etihad.

Hojlund has to start that one, Joshua Zirkzee will need to stay on the bench and was rightly hooked a minute before United had equalised.

Zirkzee was certainly doing himself few favours once again here in the Doosan Arena.

For every decent piece of work there are at least two glaring first touches that immediately give possession back to the opposition.

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He certainly wasn’t having any chances on goal in the first period.

Manchester United have been a hard watch at the moment and the first half in minus three degrees here in Plzen was taking it to another level.

The 640 loyal followers from Manchester in one corner of the ground must have been longing for a warm fire at their local.

Still they come and they were rewarded with that second-half comeback.

In the first period United didn’t look in particular danger but then again didn’t look dangerous either.

It looked like being that sort of game.

The only effort of note before the break came from captain Bruno Fernandes, who, with Amad, was the only player worthy of some praise before the break.

Casemiro played the ball out from the back to Zirkzee who for once found his man in Fernandes and he charged forward before having a shot towards the far bottom corner.

It was a decent effort but the goalkeeper had it covered and palmed the ball away with a full length save.

Plzen’s best hope of scoring looked like it would come through United goalkeeper Andre Onana.

He had let a shot that was virtually straight at him go into the net in United’s last game against Nottingham Forest that resulted in a 3-2 home defeat.

Here he was flapping early on from a free-kick and corner as he came to punch with little conviction.

It would get worse for him when he gifted Plzen the lead just three minutes after the break.

No alarm bells were ringing when Lisandro Martinez laid the ball back to him.

But as he dithered in deciding what to do they sounded.

He chose a pass that was no longer on out to Matthijs De Ligt and Pavel Sulc had already anticipated the error.

In he charged to be first to the ball and square it for a grateful Matej Vydra to side foot home.

It was a special moment for the former Burnley player while the man who assisted him had grown up a United fan.

Amorim needed to make changes and off first was Rashford with no acknowledgement between player or manager as he made his way to the bench.

Holland was on, and Mason Mount and Antony would soon join him in action, and moments later, United was level.

Antony found Amad who produced a great little run, turn and shot that was blocked but Hojlund followed up to finish.

It was Amad’s eighth goal assist in United’s last eight games.

United were now looking the more dangerous and when Fernandes whipped a ball across the six-yard box, Hojlund somehow failed to connect for his second.

Plzen were not finished and Vydra nearly had a second when he fired a volley just wide of the near post.

United should have been ahead in the 77th minute when a good break finished with Amad teeing the ball up for Mount but his weak shot was straight at the goalkeeper.

But Hojliund would grab another set up by Fernandes to turn and fire back across the goalkeeper.

This time when the United players went over to the away fans to applaud their support there was every reason to clap them back.

Hojlund had made sure of that, he is ready for the derby.