Viktoria Plzen vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League result and reaction as Hojlund brace ensures win
Ruben Amorim’s side look to bounce back from consecutive defeats with an away clash in Europe
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United weathered another mistake from Andre Onana to complete a comeback victory over Viktoria Plzen to move closer to winning automatic qualification for the Europa League round of 16.
The first half in the Czech Republic has a lacklustre affair as United controlled possession but created little opportunities. In comparison the hosts looked sharp on the counter-attack and weren’t shy to shoot.
Plzen were then gifted the opening goal in the second half as Onana attempted to play out from back. The United goalkeeper gave up the ball and allowed Matej Vydra to tap in from close range.
Ruben Amorim switched things up almost immediately and brought on the substitutions. Mason Mount was a bright spark but Rasmus Hojlund changed the game. He got on the end of passes from Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes to equalise and then win the game late in the day.
Relive the Europa League action with our live blog below:
Even in victory Manchester United show how difficult Ruben Amorim’s rebuild will be
A victory snatched from the jaws of defeat should give a new manager hope that there is fight among his charges, that the future is bright.
Not for Ruben Amorim. Rasmus Hojlund stepped off the bench to fire Manchester United to a lofty fifth in the Europa League standings - heady heights indeed - but the performance on a bitterly cold night in Plzen was worrying in the extreme.
Amorim became only the third United manager to win both of his first two matches in major European competition in charge of the club, after Matt Busby and Alex Ferguson, as his side picked up their first away success in Europe since March 2023.
Even in victory Manchester United show how difficult Ruben Amorim’s rebuild will be
Viktoria Plzen 1-2 Manchester United: Rasmus Hojlund’s brace spared United some blushes after a poor performance in the Europa League
Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund speaking to TNT Sports:
“It was a bit difficult out there. It was very cold today and the pitch was a bit boggy as well, but we solved it in the second half.
“I think we didn’t play too direct in the first half. We needed to play over them and behind them more because there was space to run into. Especially with the boggy pitch I was talking about, if we won the second balls, you can play from there.
“I have watched Bruno [Fernandes] do that before. I remember the goal with Anthony Martial when he did the chip for him. I just thought I had a good opportunity because I am strong, I could push the defender and spin him and finish.”
Captain Bruno
Bruno Fernandes’ assist for Rasmus Hojlund’s winning goal was the seventh chance he created in the game.
It is the third time he has created seven or more chances in a European match for United. Nobody else on record (from 2003-04) has done so even once for United.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes speaking to TNT Sports:
“It was a good performance overall. I think in the final third we could have kept the ball a bit more but the man-marking from them was difficult to get away from. Sometimes you just have to pass and run to try to find the gaps in behind.
“In the first half we did it better than in the second half, when we let the game go a little bit in the way that they wanted, a bit more transitional. Then we dealt with that and in the end we got the win.
“We want to play from the back and everyone knows that then we have to make the right decision on the pitch. Andre [Onana] thought that Matta [De Ligt] could get on the ball but he missed it and they scored a goal.
“It is not about Andre making the mistake, we don’t look at individuals here when something happens on the wrong side. We have huge belief in him. He knows he made a mistake because he is a clever guy, he is going to help us many times and we trust his qualities on the ball.
“Mistakes are part of football. If they don’t happen then goals don’t happen. But we did well to show the resilience to come back and find the victory.”
‘The game became stretched and that helped'
Karen Carney speaking on TNT Sports: “The game became far more stretched in the second half and that helped Manchester United. They are far more suited to carrying the ball on transition.
“Then Ruben Amorim’s substitutions also helped. Mason Mount came on and made a big difference and it gave Amad more time and space to run.”
FT Viktoria Plzen 1-2 Man Utd
Manchester United are the first foreign side to win here since Barcelona in November 2022.
FT Viktoria Plzen 1-2 Man Utd
Viktoria Plzen’s 12-match home unbeaten run in Europe (including qualifiers) comes to an end.
‘Massive win for Man Utd'
Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves speaking on TNT Sports: “It’s a massive win for Manchester United in an almost must-win game.
“There was plenty of pressure on Ruben Amorim’s team to win this.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments