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.
But after coming on as a 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.
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 Diallo, 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.
ANDRE ONANA had his blushes spared by Rasmus Hojlund as Manchester United fought back to win against Viktoria Plzen.
Here’s how SunSport’s Henry Tomlinson rated the Red Devils stars…
Andre Onana – 4
It was a very shaky start to the game in which Onana hurt Casemiro and failed to deal with the host’s crosses convincingly.
He made a massive error that led to Plzen taking the lead with his poor pass, leaving his defenders with no chance of bailing him out.
Diogo Dalot – 6
Dalot made some decent runs forward to join in with the attacks.
Defensively was fairly solid and was not often caught out.
Noussair Mazraoui – 6
Playing a bit more central, Mazraoui used his pace well to help out at the back.
Matthijs de Ligt – 6
He was sold short by Onana’s pass that led to the opener but otherwise was fine during the 90 minutes.
Lisandro Martinez – 6
Made himself available when Man United got forward but struggled with the physicality of the Plzen attackers.
Tyrell Malacia – 6
He offered very little going forward in the wing-back role as he struggled to combine with Marcus Rashford.
Casemiro – 6
He moved the ball forward when he could and recovered from an early blow from Onana.
Bruno Fernandes – 7
He was lucky to have escaped an early yellow card. Stung the goalkeeper’s gloves in the first half with a good effort.
His quick thinking set up Rasmus Hojlund to fire in a late winner.
Amad Diallo – 8
Diallo was a rare bright spark in Man United’s attack against Plzen.
It was his run that led to the equaliser, and he used his pace and skill to get past his defender.
Marcus Rashford – 4
Rashford was often loose on the ball and surrendered possession in the attacking third.
He received the first booking of the game for a needless foul and was lucky not to be sent off in the second half before being hooked by Ruben Amorim.
Joshua Zirkzee – 6
Took on the centre-forward role well, held the ball up and linked up play well enough.
Subs
Rasmus Hojlund 55′ – 8
Hojlund showed his striker instincts by being in the right position to grab Man United’s equaliser.
He then latched onto Fernandes’ clever pass to score the winner.
Antony 60′ – 6
He was involved in the equaliser by linking up with Diallo.
Mason Mount 60′ – 7
Made a positive impact after coming on and was unlucky not to score as he was denied twice by the goalkeeper after coming into the action.
Alejandro Garnacho 80′ – N/A
Failed to make a positive impact on his short spell on the pitch.
Manuel Ugarte 80′ – N/A
He slotted into the midfield as he replaced Casemiro late on.
It was a decent effort but goalkeeper Martin Jedlicka 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 keeper 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 Marcus Rashford with no acknowledgement between player or manager as he made his way to the bench.
Hojlund was on, and Mason Mount as well as Antony would soon join him in action, and moments later United were level.
https://twitter.com/footballontnt/status/1867292357097353463Antony 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.
