Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt: Hojlund double seals Amorim’s first win
Man Utd 3-2 Bodo/Glimt: Hojlund double seals Amorim’s first win. Manchester United needed a tactical restructure and resilient performance to secure just their second Europa League win of the season as Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt made the trip to Old Trafford.
Alejandro Garnacho looked like he had set the tone for a perfect night as Ruben Amorim led the Red Devils at the Theatre of Dreams for the first time. But it threatened to become a nightmare when Hakon Evjen and Philip Zinckernagel both struck in quick succession for the visitors.
Rasmus Hojlund pulled it back to 2-2 in the closing stages of the first half, before the Dane grabbed an ultimately decisive second after the break to seal the victory and three points for the hosts.
How the game unfolded:
It was a blistering start from United, going in front after just 48 seconds. Hojlund hadn’t started against Ipswich Town and seemed determined to impress, hunting the ball as Bodo/Glimt passed back to goalkeeper Nikita Haikin. The raw talent managed nick possession a few yards from goal and Garnacho was there to pounce in front of an empty net.
United appeared confident and in control, but disaster struck out of seemingly nowhere when the visitors scored twice in the space of three minutes to turn the game on its head.
First, Bodo/Glimt played out of midfield after collecting a clearance, with Evjen running on to a cutback from Sondre Brunstad Fet to sweep in from the edge of the box. Then a long ball into the right channel saw Zinckernagel win a race with the returning Tyrell Malacia and coolly finish.
United risked falling further behind in another moment of defensive disarray as Evjen lifted a decent chance high over the bar. But Amorim’s side managed to regain a foothold that resulted in finishing the half on top and back level.
The equaliser from Hojlund, which came after Bodo/Glimt almost scored an own goal, had been coming amid a head of steam. Manuel Ugarte pressed high to win the ball, forcing a hurried clearance picked off by Noussair Mazraoui, whose silky footwork engineered the space for a cross that Hojlund controlled and volleyed in during what felt like one fluid motion.
The half-time arrival of Diogo Dalot in place of Malacia signalled a partial switch in formation away from 3-4-3, with United reverting to 4-2-3-1 when out of possession. The issue in the first half had been defensively and there was no problem going forward, as shown when Mason Mount agonisingly struck the crossbar with a curling effort towards the top corner.
Mount also played a huge part moments later when Hojlund’s second put United back in front, cleverly flicking Mazraoui’s pass into the path of Ugarte, who squared for the No.9 to finish a few yards out. A VAR check for a possible offside was cleared without action.
Moments later, Haikin strongly parried from Garnacho, and it was clear United had firmly wrestled back control. The Bodo/Glimt threat from the first half was heavily subdued, although there was a hairy moment when Andre Onana almost got caught on the ball out his goal and accidentally brushed it with his hand as he battled not to lose it – VAR didn’t see enough to warrant a possible red card. United then went straight up the other end and Garnacho curled a good chance over.
Into the closing stages and substitute Marcus Rashford dragged a shot wide, while Onana made a handy save – even if an offside flag meant a goal wouldn’t have counted anyway. His next secured the three points, beating away a goal-bound 92nd minute free-kick from Patrick Berg.
