MANCHESTER UNITED have beaten Bodo/Glimt 3-2 to secure back-to-back wins in the Europa League – but it wasn’t all plain sailing.
Ruben Amorim received a warm welcome as he led the Red Devils out for the first time at Old Trafford.
And he was once again greeted to a fast start after Alejandro Garnacho pounced on a defensive error from the visitors to make it 1-0 after just 48 seconds.
But on 19 minutes, Hakon Evjen’s screamer stunned Old Trafford and got Bodo/Glimt on level terms.
Things went from bad to worse for Man Utd after Philip Zinckernagel fired the visitors ahead just four minutes later.
Just before half-time, Rasmus Hojlund’s superb finish made the tie 2-2 to spare the hosts’ blushes at the interval.
Minutes into the second half, the Dane doubled his tally from close range, which turned out to be the match-winner as Amorim claimed his first win as Man Utd manager.
- Match result: Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt
- Man Utd team: Onana, Malacia, Martinez, De Ligt, Mazraoui, Antony, Fernandes, Ugarte, Mount, Garnacho, Hojlund
- Bodo/Glimt team: Haikin, Wembangomo, Gundersen, Bjortuft, Bjorkan, Evjen, Berg, Fet, Zinckernagel, Helmersen, Hauge
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Match report
By SunSport’s Neil Custis
Rasmus Hojlund borrowed a scene from The Gladiator as he put Bodo Glimt to the sword.
When the Danish striker equalised to make it 2-2 at halftime, he ran to the legions of fans in the East Stand, put his thumb up, and then turned it down, adding a cut-throat gesture.
The signal replicated that from a Roman Emperor for an opponent to be finished off.
Hojlund did just that when he added his second in the 50th minute as the invaders from Norway who had been so vocal at 2-1 up found their team slain by the end.
‘Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?’, Hojlund might have cried to The Stretford End at the close of a thrilling contest.
It was a much-needed night for Hojlund, who could easily have been hailed as ‘Maxuimus Misses’ during his time at Old Trafford.
But on night’s like this you can see why Erik ten Hag bought him, and pleaded for patience.
Man Utd fixtures
United’s next game is at home to Everton on Sunday in the Premier League.
In this competition they face an away trip to Plzen in a fortnight as part of a ridiculously, hectic festive schedule.
- Everton (H) – Dec 1
- Arsenal (A) – Dec 4
- Nottm Forest (H) – Dec 7
- Plzen (A) – Dec 12
- Man City (A) – Dec 15
- Tottenham (A) Dec 19
- Bournemouth (H) – Dec 22
- Wolves (A) – Dec 26
- Newcastle (H) – Dec 30
How we stand
A look at the Europa League table after tonight’s results.
United in 12th spot, just a point outside the automatic qualifying spots.
Tottenham a few places ahead – while Rangers are the highest ranked British side…
Credit: Uefa
Amorim reacts
Ruben Amorim admits there were good and bad moments in tonight’s victory.
But he was full of praise for his side for the way they stuck at the game plan and reckons they deserved the win.
He told TNT Sports, per BBC: “Of course, I see what what everybody sees, good moments, difficult moments.
“There was some confusion in the end trying to hold the result, but the lads did a great job. They ran, they pressed, they tried to do the things we have worked on in the last three days and we won!
“Half of the stadium doesn’t know me, I came from Portugal and I did nothing for this club. Yet the way they make me feel at home is special.
“I will keep this to the end of my career.”
“Like a real ride. We started well, but then suffered two goals in two transitions. I like the way the players tried to play our game.
“Sometimes we won the ball and have had problems in the past giving the ball away too much – the mindset is keeping the ball.
“They are really trying and I think we deserved the win.”
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim interviewed following the UEFA Europa League, league stage match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Picture date: Thursday November 28, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Man Utd. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder. Character shown
Rasmus Hojlund said it’s all about the three points and wants United’s games to be less exciting by killing teams off.
He told TNT Sports: “It was a little bit of a bad start but we came back and showed character.
“We want to make sure these games don’t get too exciting. But it’s all about the three points, innit?”
“He [Ruben Amorim] told me not to think too much about the guys behind me and just work on what I can see in front of me. We saw that with the first goal.”
Player ratings
Sunsport’s Martin Blackburn was inside Old Trafford for tonight’s game.
He runs the rule over tonight’s team and picks his star man.
- ANDRE ONANA – 6
- NOUSSAIR MAZROUAI – 7
- MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 6
- LISANDRO MARTINEZ – 6
- ANTONY – 5
- MANUEL UGARTE – 7
- BRUNO FERNANDES – 6
- TYRELL MALACIA – 5
- MASON MOUNT – 7
- ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 7
- RASMUS HOJLUND – 8*
SUBS
- DALOT – 6
- RASHFORD – 5
- SHAW– 5
- AMAD – 5
- CASEMIRO – 5
Read on to find out why they were rated as they were….
Full time numbers
Over three times as many completed passes for United than their Norwegian opponents tonight.
A cracking 20 shots at goal too for the hosts with just six on target.
Three corners? That’s a low count here.
Full time view from SunSport’s Martin Blackburn at Old Trafford
Thumbs up in the end – but for a while it was thumbs down. Match-winner Rasmus Hojlund scored twice to clinch the tie and unveiled his Gladiator style celebration – but the jury is still out.
Norwegian champions elect Bodo Glimt turned the tie around to lead in the first half and that will be a worry for new boss Amorim.
Even so it was a win in his first home game for the Portuguese.
Sticky
It wasn’t pretty for much of the first half but in the end it was a rather comfortable second 45 minutes for Manchester United.
That tweak at half time working wonders – maybe this manager is decent after all?
Two goals for Rasmus Hojlund too, how much good will that do him?
FULL TIME
Ruben Amorim’s first win as Manchester United manager in his first taste of Old Trafford.
Three goals and three points in the Europa League.
Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt
90+2 – Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt
GREAT SAVE!
It’s curled over the wall towards the top corner and Onana again gets across to keep it out well!
Half-hearted appeals for a handball which are checked and cleared.
90+1 – Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt
Uh oh…
Casemiro gives away a free kick, just a yard outside the penalty area on the right of centre.
What a chance this is for Bodo/Glimt to snatch a point.
90+1 – Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt
Hogh rises highest inside the box and powers a header at goal.
Onana at full stretch keeps it out superbly. But the Bodo/Glimt man was offside anyway.
Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt
Three minutes added!
Taking the mickey
Some spot from a cameraman to spot a MOUSE on the Old Trafford pitch while the game’s going on.
Looks like Hojlund’s winning some stars for camp in this Bushtucker trial.
Credit: Getty
87 – Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt
A rare attack for the visitors, who manage to work their way into United’s half and up to the edge of the box.
The shot comes in from 20 yards out but Casemiro’s frame gets in the way to block it before Hojlund wins a free kick.
82 – Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt
He looks far more pleased at the minute, Amorim.
But he knows the slender lead can disappear at any moment.
As it stands, they’re dominating the ball and looking most likely to score next.
80 – Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt
Great chance for Rashford to kill it off.
Mazraoui curls a fantastic ball over the top of the Norwegian’s defence, sending Rashford clear down the right.
He looks up for Garnacho in the middle but he can’t keep up, so he strikes low across goal, missing by a couple of feet in the end.
76 – Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt
What an incredible 30 seconds!
Onana is well, well outside his area when he’s almost dispossessed and ends up on his backside.
Bodo/Glimt just can’t get a shot away and United break at incredible speed.
Diallo charges down the right and they’re 4v2 when he picks out Garnacho on the edge of the box. His curled attempt goes well, well over. Poor finish given the good opportunity to finish this one off.
View from SunSport’s Martin Blackburn at Old Trafford
Rasmus Hojlund launched a ‘Gladiator’ style celebration as he put his thumbs up and then down after his two goals.
The Danish forward had certainly put Bodo Glimt to the sword – as the Norwegian’s dream of a historic night at Old Trafford was halted by goals either side of the break by Hojlund.
He seems to be enjoying life under the new boss.
66 – Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt
Better from Bodo/Glimt as the play completely opens up for them.
A driving run through the middle comes to an end with a through-ball cut out by the retreating Garnacho putting in the hard yards.
Jens Petter Hauge follows up with a shot at goal but Onana saves comfortably.
66 – Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt
More United changes as Casemiro readies himself to come on.
It looks like he’ll come on as the centre back here.
- OFF: De Ligt
- ON: Casemiro
62 – Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt
Stop-start at the minute as the visitors go to their bench too.
Bodo/Glimt haven’t really got going in an attacking sense in this second half.
In truth, they haven’t actually made many passes in United’s half.
Changes
Just as the clock ticks to the hour-mark, Amorim has opted to make a triple change.
- OFF: Mount, Antony & Martinez
- ON: Diallo, Rashford & Shaw
53 – Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt
Nearly a fourth!
Garnacho has ACRES of room as he’s sent clear down the left. He drives in towards goal, inside the defender and bends it towards the far corner but the keeper keeps it out.
Hojlund can’t keep his feet for the rebound and a hat trick attempt goes begging.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
