Rasmus Hojlund gives Ruben Amorim winning home start after Man Utd rocked - 5 talking points
MANCHESTER UNITED 3-2 BODO/GLIMT: A quickfire double from Bodo/Glimt threatened to derail Ruben Amorim's first Old Trafford game before Rasmus Hojlund took control
Ruben Amorim didn't have everything his own way in his first Manchester United match at Old Trafford, but a Rasmus Hojlund brace helped deliver the new head coach his first win.
United led inside a minute when Alejandro Garnacho took advantage of a goalkeeping howler. The lead didn't last long, though, with Hakon Evjen finding the top corner to bring the visitors level, and it was 2-1 moments later as Philip Zinckernagel raced through to score.
Hojlund was United's hero, though. First the former Atalanta man delivered a fine volleyed equaliser on the stroke of half-time, and then he put the hosts back in front just five minutes into the second half and a late Andre Onana save ensured the 3-2 lead was preserved.
After starting their European campaign with three draws under Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils still have some work to do if they want to avoid a play-off for the round of 16. However, after back-to-back wins, they at least look set to avoid an early elimination.
READ MORE: Man Utd owed rivals £317m in transfer fees last year - now staggering figure has risen againREAD MORE: Man Utd's astonishing cost of failure since Sir Alex Ferguson revealed in startling figuresThere was less than a minute on the clock when Bodo/Glimt keeper Nikita Haikin was caught in possession by Rasmus Hojlund, with Alejandro Garnacho picking up the pieces. The hosts continued to threaten, enjoying plenty of possession in and around their opponents' box, only to be caught out by a one-two punch.
First, Evjen connected with an unstoppable effort which gave Andre Onana no chance. Amorim's men might well have still been licking their wounds a couple of minutes later when Zinckernagel - once of Watford - outmuscled Tyrell Malacia and fired through Onana.
Just as the visitors looked to be going in ahead at the break, though, Hojlund's moment arrived. Noussair Mazraoui made the goal with a strong interception and neat footwork, but the Dane still had a lot to do.
Who stood out for you in Man Utd vs Bodo/Glimt? Have your say in the comments section
Hojlund showed his worth once more at the start of the second half, just about staying onside before scoring what proved to be the winner. Here are Mirror Football's talking points from a topsy-turvy evening at Old Trafford.
1. Hojlund hitting his groove
To say Rasmus Hojlund was up for this game is an understatement. His sprint to set up the opener set the tone, and his equaliser was a moment of pure quality.
The Dane's second goal of the evening was a different flavour, a pure poacher's finish where he showed his strength to beat the covering defender to the ball. It might be a bit of a cliche to say he was hungrier, but that's how it felt.
Amorim's United may well live or die on their number nine, with Viktor Gyokeres' goals and attacking play a key factor in the manager's Sporting success. In just one home game under the new boss, Hojlund has already doubled his goal tally for the season.
2. United start quickly again
Trust United to score within two minutes in Amorim's first match and then decide 'no, that isn't fast enough'. That said, their opener owed a lot to Haikin giving them an absolute gift.
Haikin panicked under pressure from Hojlund, allowing Garnacho to stroll through and slot the ball into an empty net. That said, United's forwards needed to both be alert to take advantage of the opportunity.
The next challenge will be building on these fast starts and maintaining a lead. The Amorim era has certainly delivered early excitement, but in the longer term the odd boring win wouldn't go amiss.
3. Malacia handed an important reminder
More than 500 days had passed since Tyrell Malacia last started a match for Manchester United. Some rust can be expected from the Dutchman, albeit maybe not in the manner that was exposed at Old Trafford.
The former Feyenoord star was left one-on-one with Zinckernagel but was shaken off far too easily. It's the kind of weak defending which would count against you in a friendly, let alone an important European game.
In Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3 set-up, there will be a lot of onus on the wing-backs, and if they want to be able to contribute regularly then errors like this will need to be cut out. Malacia's half-time withdrawal might have been planned, given his long lay-off, but he'll know as well as anyone else what's needed.
4. Mount pulling strings
There are plenty of players hoping Amorim's arrival can give them a fresh start, and Mount is chief among them. The former Chelsea star has struggled with injuries at Old Trafford, but was given a chance to show the new boss what he can do when he started on Thursday.
We saw a promising early sign with a shot which forced Haikin into action. The rest of the half was a little quieter, but he was inces away from getting his goal when he hit the woodwork early in the second period.
Mount had a bit part in United's third goal, too, delivering a smart flick to free Manuel Ugarte, who in turn fed Hojlund. United have had false dawns before, but Mount showed in this game what he can offer.
5. Hard to see a place for Antony
There was a moment in the first half when Antony found plenty of space down United's right but steadfastly refused to use his right foot, instead attempting to bend the ball to a team-mate with the outside of his left. Unsurprisingly, it didn't work.
The Brazilian might have struggled for minutes last season and the start of this, but he at least appeared to have a defined role in Erik ten Hag's system. In Amorim's 3-4-3, though, it's an even greater challenge.
When Antony made way shortly before the hour, it didn't seem to harm any of the hosts' momentum. The £86m man is already a very expensive squad player, but he'll need to do a lot more to regain a starting spot.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £192 and includes more than 1,000 live matches each season across the Premier League, EFL and more.