Manchester United’s Rasmus Højlund came off the bench to give a dramatic late turnaround as the Red Devils secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen in Thursday’s Europa League clash. The win boosts United’s hopes of direct qualification to the competition’s last 16.
The Czech hosts opened the scoring early in the second half through Matej Vydra, capitalizing on an error by United goalkeeper André Onana. However, Højlund, introduced as part of a triple substitution in the 56th minute, emerged as the hero for Manchester United with two clinical strikes, ensuring the visitors returned to England with all three points.
Plzen’s opener came in the 48th minute after a nervy first half. Onana’s misplaced pass was intercepted by Pavel Sulc, who wasted no time setting up Vydra for a straightforward finish. Vydra, a familiar name to English fans from his stints with Watford and Burnley, punished United’s sloppiness with precision, leaving the visitors trailing and rattled.
The goal spurred Manchester United into action, prompting manager Ruben Amorim to shake up his lineup with decisive changes. The introduction of Højlund, alongside midfield reinforcements, immediately injected pace and urgency into United’s attack.
Six minutes after coming on, Højlund made his mark. In the 62nd minute, Amad Diallo’s deflected shot fell kindly for the Danish forward, who reacted instinctively to tap the ball past Viktoria Plzen goalkeeper Martin Jedlička, restoring parity.
United pressed for a winner as Plzen retreated deeper to defend their goal. Bruno Fernandes, captaining the side, took charge of the midfield and orchestrated the breakthrough United desperately sought. With just two minutes left on the clock, Fernandes delivered a clever free-kick to Højlund, who showcased composure and technical brilliance.
Turning past his marker, he calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner, silencing the home crowd and sealing Manchester United’s comeback.
“It wasn’t a great game, but we showed character,” United manager Ruben Amorim said post-match. “The substitutes made the difference. Rasmus stepped up when we needed him, and this is the type of mentality we want in this team.”
Amorim, who took charge in November following Erik ten Hag’s departure, is still shaping the side to match his tactical philosophy. Thursday’s result, however, provided a glimpse of the determination and depth United possess under his leadership.
The first half was a lackluster affair, with neither team finding much rhythm. Fernandes came close in the 30th minute with a low drive that forced Jedlička into action, while Plzen’s Cheick Souaré nearly stunned the visitors with a curling effort that skimmed past the post just before the break.
After conceding early in the second half, United increased their tempo. Despite Jedlička’s heroics to deny Mason Mount and Antony, Højlund’s clinical finishing proved decisive.
The victory keeps Manchester United in strong contention for automatic progression to the Europa League last 16. Amorim acknowledged the need for improvement but praised his team’s fighting spirit.
“We lacked pace and control early on, but we responded well,” Amorim said. “It’s a message to keep believing and never give up.”
Højlund’s late heroics not only earned United a crucial victory but also reaffirmed his growing importance to the team. With confidence restored, Manchester United will look to carry their momentum forward as they navigate a congested fixture list.
