Højlund Brace Seals Late Comeback Victory for Man Utd at Plzen

The result propels Ruben Amorim's side into the top eight, securing an automatic spot in the Europa League last 16.

Rasmus Højlund, now with five goals in the competition this season, ignited a United comeback after his second-half introduction.

The 21-year-old forward equalized with a clinical finish following a slick combination between Antony and Amad Diallo, prodding home after Diallo’s initial effort was blocked. He then doubled his tally with a composed low strike into the bottom-right corner, latching onto Bruno Fernandes' incisive pass.

Højlund’s heroics spared United further embarrassment after another costly error from Andre Onana. The Cameroonian goalkeeper, for the second straight game, was at fault for conceding a goal. Attempting to play out from the back, Onana’s pass to Matthijs de Ligt was intercepted by Pavel Šulc, who set up Matej Vydra for an easy tap-in from six yards.

Amorim's changes turn the tide

Stability and cohesion, both on and off the pitch, remain pressing concerns for Manchester United.

The abrupt departure of sporting director Dan Ashworth has coincided with plummeting staff morale amid redundancies and cost-cutting measures, while new head coach Ruben Amorim once again reshuffled his starting XI.

On a dreary evening in Plzeň, United struggled to impose themselves, taking over 30 minutes to produce any meaningful threat in a lifeless first half. Bruno Fernandes' speculative 25-yard drive, comfortably parried by Viktoria Plzeň goalkeeper Martin Jedlička, was their only notable effort.

It was hardly surprising when United fell behind, given their poor campaign form of just two wins from five matches before this clash, against opponents who hadn’t lost at home since March.

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Andre Onana’s erratic performance highlighted ongoing issues. The Cameroonian goalkeeper, whose inconsistency contributed to United's Champions League group-stage exit last season, made another costly error. His misjudged pass led directly to Viktoria Plzeň’s opener. Earlier, Onana clattered into Casemiro—celebrating his 100th major European appearance—while attempting to claim a ball he had no business challenging for.

With Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee largely ineffective in attack, United's fortunes shifted only after the introductions of Rasmus Højlund, Mason Mount, and Antony.

Mount’s intelligent movement and Højlund’s dynamism injected energy into United’s previously stagnant play. Mount twice came close to scoring, forcing impressive saves from Jedlička.

Ultimately, it was Højlund who saved the day, his brace ensuring United avoided embarrassment and clinched their first European away win in 20 months. His impact underscored the attacking spark United had been missing, offering a glimmer of hope amid a tumultuous period.

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