Manchester United celebrated their first victory under new manager Ruben Amorim with a thrilling 3-2 win over Bodo/Glimt in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.
The match kicked off dramatically as United took the lead within the first minute, capitalizing on a rare mistake from Bodo/Glimt's goalkeeper Nikita Haikin. Under pressure from Rasmus Hojlund, Haikin mishandled a back pass, allowing Alejandro Garnacho to tap in the opening goal.
Bodo/Glimt responded swiftly, scoring twice through explosive breaks. Hakon Evjen fired a superb strike into the top corner in the 19th minute, and Philip Zinckernagel secured the lead by outpacing Tyrell Malacia to score past United's keeper Andre Onana, sending the Old Trafford crowd into disbelief.
Manchester United leveled the score just before halftime when Noussair Mazraoui delivered a precise pass, finding Hojlund, who skillfully controlled the ball and fired a shot between two defenders into the far corner.
Amorim's side regained the lead five minutes into the second half, thanks to a deft low pass from Manuel Ugarte that Hojlund guided into the net, following Mason Mount’s near miss when he hit the crossbar.
Despite the intense competition, United held firm, with Onana making two crucial saves to secure the three points. This victory moves Manchester United to 12th in the standings with nine points, while Bodo/Glimt drops to 17th with seven points.
Reflecting on the game, Amorim expressed satisfaction with his team's performance. \"Of course, I see what everybody sees, good moments, difficult moments. There was some confusion in the end trying to hold the result, but the lads did a great job. They ran, they pressed, they tried to do the things we have worked on in the last three days and we won,\" Amorim told TNT Sports.
Amorim's previous match in charge was a 1-1 draw in the Premier League against Ipswich Town on November 24.
\"Half of the stadium doesn't know me, I came from Portugal and I did nothing for this club. Yet the way they make me feel at home is special,\" the manager added. \"I will keep this to the end of my career.\"
Reference(s):
Manchester United secure first win under Amorim by edging Bodo/Glimt
cgtn.com
