Ruben Amorim survives Old Trafford scare to earn first Man United win as club achieve 31-year first
Ruben Amorim earned his first Manchester United victory after the Red Devils bounced back from an early scare against Bodo/Glimt.
Man United welcomed the Norwegian side to Old Trafford on Thursday evening in match week five of the Europa League, sealing a 3-2 win.
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It marked Amorim's first match in front of his new adoring fans and his second overall following the 1-1 draw with Ipswich last weekend.
That match saw United take the lead with 81 seconds on the clock at Portman Road through Marcus Rashford.
And the Red Devils went one better against their Norwegian opponents after breaking the deadlock in the first minute.
Alejandro Garnacho capitalised on a goalkeeping howler from Bodo/Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Khaikin to tap home into an empty net inside 49 seconds.
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In doing so, it is the first time since March 1991 that United have scored in the opening minute of a major European match.
That was when Brian McClair opened the scoring against Montpellier in a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup tie.
But just like at Ipswich, United failed to hold onto their lead, with Hakon Evjen rifling in an equaliser in the 19th minute from 20 yards out.
And just four minutes later, it was 2-1 to the visitors as Philip Zinckernagel fired in his attempt into the bottom left corner.
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The returning Tyrell Malacia couldn't stop the former Watford player from charging into the box and putting the visitors ahead.
Amorim's Sporting Lisbon side conceded more than once in only one of his final 26 home games in charge.
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That run extends back to November 2023.
Only team that scored more than once was Farense in March, but Sporting won 3-2.
While the Portuguese boss was in unfamiliar territory, Man United fans inside the stadium were left horrified as their side quickly threw their lead away.
And it won't be how they wanted Erik ten Hag's permanent successor to have started his first game at Old Trafford.
talkSPORT's chief football correspondent wrote on X: "These players! Amorim will be grey within weeks."
Another post on X read: "Man United score quickly. Man United don't build on it. Man United concede. Rinse and repeat I'm afraid."
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However, Man United went on to regain their lead in the end.
Before half time, Hojlund got his reward for his work in Man United's first goal.
He took a fine touch in the box before scooping the ball over Bodo's defence and into the bottom corner to bring his side level at 2-2.
The striker then fired in Man United's third of the evening, courtesy of a delicious cross from substitute Mason Mount to secure Amorim's first win.
Speaking to TNT after full-time, Hojlund was asked if he was happy with the performance.
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"Yes and no," he said. "A little bit of a bad start. We came back but we don't want to get too excited. We got the job done today."
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The ex-Sporting boss, clearly aware of the job he has to do at Old Trafford, headed straight down the tunnel at full-time.
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