Sports
MANCHESTER United made a winning Old Trafford start under new boss Ruben Amorim as his side came from behind to beat Norwegian team Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.
United scored after just 81 seconds in Amorim’s first game in charge at Ipswich, and took them just 48 seconds to find the net this time around.
A catastrophic error from goalkeeper Nikita Haikin, who inexplicably allowed Rasmus Hojlund to close him down as he went to make a routine clearance, followed gave Alejandro Garnacho a tap-in.
But rather than pave the way for an easy victory, it was the prelude for a period of frustration for the hosts as Bodo/Glimt turned the game on its head with two goals in four minutes to take the lead with just a quarter of the match gone.
Thankfully for United, Hojlund brought a scream of delight from Amorim with an outstanding finish to pull them level before the break.
Hojlund won the game when he turned home Manuel Ugarte’s cross from close range five minutes into the second period.
While Amorim will be pleased with a result that boosts United’s chances of a top-eight finish in the Europa League table and automatic qualification for the last 16 in March, he will be frustrated at the number of chances his side wasted to ease their way to victory.
Garnacho bore a lot of responsibility. The Argentine sent one effort across goal when team-mates were in a better position. He then curled a shot over under no pressure after he had been set up by Amad Diallo.
Substitute Marcus Rashford also drilled a shot wide as United continued to press. But the fourth would not come, leading to a few nervous moments before the final whistle gave Amorim his first win since leaving Sporting earlier this month.
Hojlund shines at Old Trafford
Opinion on Hojlund fluctuates.
United have repeatedly stressed the £72m fee was spent on a player they felt could develop into a top striker.
As Ten Hag found out to his cost, time at a leading club is finite.
Eighteen goals in 56 appearances prior to this encounter is no better than OK and as Amorim admitted after the draw at Ipswich in his first game, when Hojlund started on the bench, that Marcus Rashford is not suited to the number nine role, a lot rests on the Dane.
His leveller was superb. Hojlund controlled Mazraoui’s cross, then manipulated his body position quickly enough to take the shot on before the ball hit the ground. His celebration came straight from the newly-released Gladiator film – but Hojlund wasn’t finished.
The former Atalanta forward’s second was more orthodox as he slid in to turn home Ugarte’s cross from close range.
The 21-year-old might have had his first United hat-trick had Garnacho opted to pass rather than end a powerful forward burst by shooting himself. Hojlund was unable to convert the rebound after the initial effort had been saved.
Instead, he has doubled his tally to the season to four and served notice he could seal a regular place in Amorim’s team.
United’s defence still a concern
One of the worrying traits United developed under Erik ten Hag was conceding goals in close proximity to each other.
Porto and Liverpool both got two within seven minutes of each other earlier in the campaign. Bodo/Glimt bettered them both by getting two in four minutes.
There was also something eerily familiar in the way the hosts started well, then gave a goal away from nothing.
When they lost the ball inside their own half, their defensive shape was non-existent, both wing-backs were too high up the pitch and the visitors swarmed the United box,
Hakon Evjen was in far too much room on the edge of the area and had enough time to pick his spot, which was the top corner.
Bodo/Glimt’s second was a simple case of Philip Zinckernagel having too much strength and speed for Tyrell Malacia, whose first appearance in 18 months was brought to an end at half-time, when he was replaced by Diogo Dalot.
Malacia was exposed in that neither Lisandro Martinez, nor Matthijs de Ligt offered any cover and Zinckernagel drilled a shot into the far corner.
For Amorim, relief came in the game not ending in the same familiar outcome as under Ten Hag.
In five of the Dutchman’s last six European games, United took the lead but didn’t win. Amorim had goalkeeper Andre Onana to thank for the trend not continuing.
For, after turning the game round and then wasting so many chances to wrap it up, Onana was forced to claw away an injury-time free-kick from Patrick Berg that was heading for the top corner to ensure the hosts could celebrate a win that moves them to 12th in the 36-team standings, a point away from a top-eight place with three games left. –
bbcsport
A.I
Nov. 29, 2024
Tags: Nikita Haikin Rasmus Hojlund Ruben Amorim
