Manchester United 3-2 Bodo/Glimt: Hojlund brace rescues Amorim’s welcome party

Rasmus Hojlund scored twice to save Ruben Amorim's welcome celebration at Old Trafford as Manchester United came from behind to beat Bodo/Glimt 3-2 in the Europa League.

The Portuguese took charge of his first home game after a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town and was said to have feared the worst when a quick double from the visitors canceled out Alejandro Garnacho's opener in the opening minute.

But Norwegian striker Hojlund took both sides of the break to earn all three points, leaving United a point behind the top eight in the league stage.

United were ahead within 50 seconds when Hojlund caught Nikita Haikan dawdling, allowing Garnacho to score an open goal in the ensuing game.

Hakon Evjen scored a wonderful left-footed equalizer and four minutes later Tyrell Malacia – back playing for the first time in 17 months – was outwitted by Philip Zinckernagel, who then fired one into the bottom left corner.

Shortly before half-time, Hojlund restored parity on the volley after brilliantly knocking down Noussair Mazraoui's cross and then finished off a well-worked move from six yards when he met center Manuel Ugarte five minutes after the restart.

Garnacho squandered two favorable chances when he broke in at the back, before converting another effort high and wide after a four-on-two break.

Marcus Rashford also flashed wide as United tried to create breathing space, but in the end a win by a single goal in five minutes was enough to give Amorim a first victory as boss.

points in Rubens first home game #MUFC || #UEL

– Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 28, 2024

Data Debrief: Ruben working with a touch of coincidence

Amorim can breathe a sigh of relief after his victory at United. This match was only the second time that a team has ever scored two goals within 23 minutes in a major European away match against the Red Devils.

The first time was against Sporting Braga in October 2012 (two goals in 20 minutes), where a certain Amorim happened to be playing for the visitors.

However, the new boss could hardly have had a better start to the match when Garnacho scored after 48 seconds. It saw United score in the opening minute of a major European match for the first time since March 1991, when Brian McClair scored the opener against Montpellier in a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup tie.

United have now won their last two European games (2-0 against PAOK Salonika under Ruud van Nistelrooy and 3-2 under Amorim on Thursday), more than in their last eleven under former boss Erik ten Hag (W1 D5 L5).