Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench to score twice as Manchester United fought back from a goal down to claim a vital Europa League win at Viktoria Plzen.
The result lifts Ruben Amorim’s side into the top eight positions that would automatically see them qualify for the last 16 of the competition.
Hojlund has now scored five times in the competition this term and sparked a United revival after his second-half introduction.
The 21-year-old forward levelled after some good link-up play from Antony and Amad Diallo, prodding in from close range when the Ivorian’s initial effort was blocked.
And the Denmark international then drove a low shot into the bottom-right corner after sprinting on to Bruno Fernandes’ clever pass.
Hojlund’s intervention spared the blushes of team-mate Andre Onana, with the United goalkeeper making a significant blunder for the second consecutive game that contributed to a goal.
There seemed little danger when the Cameroon keeper had the ball at his feet in his own penalty area but his attempt to pass out to Matthijs de Ligt was intercepted by Pavel Sulc, who squared the ball to Matej Vydra to allow the former Watford and Burnley forward to tap into an empty net from six yards.
Amorim’s changes turn the tide
Stability and contentment on and off the pitch remains a key issue for United.
The sudden departure of Dan Ashworth as sporting director comes during a period where staff morale has plummeted amid redundancies and a cost-cutting drive, while new head coach Amorim once again made multiple changes to his starting XI.
And on a bleak evening in Pilsen, United took more than 30 minutes to offer any genuine threat in an uneventful first half.
Even then, Fernandes’ low drive from 25 yards was comfortably parried to safety by home goalkeeper Martin Jedlicka.
When Manchester United went behind it was far from a surprise in a campaign that until this fixture had yielded two wins from their opening five and against opponents who had not lost at home since March.
It was far from the only error of judgement from Onana, whose inconsistent form 12 months ago was a significant factor in the club’s dismal showing in the Champions League – when they exited the competition at the group stage.
An early charge out from his line to claim a ball into the penalty area only succeeded in him smashing into United midfielder Casemiro, who was making his 100th appearance in major European competition.
With Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkee ineffective in attack, United’s intensity and fortunes only turned around once Hojlund, Mason Mount and Antony entered the fray.
Mount’s movement off the ball and Hojlund’s willingness to run in behind gave United’s previously static attacking play a new dimension.
England midfielder Mount twice went close to scoring with both efforts well saved by Jedlicka.
Ultimately Hojlund’s presence rescued his side from a potentially embarrassing defeat, and secured their first away triumph in Europe for 20 months.
