Ruben Amorim Secures First Win as Manchester United Manager in Thrilling 3-2 Comeback

Ruben Amorim secured his maiden victory as Manchester United manager in a thriller, as his squad rallied from a goal down to overcome Bodø/Glimt 3-2 at Old Trafford, extending their unbeaten streak at home to six fixtures across all competitions.

Amorim’s dugout introduction saw his team sprint into an advantage within 82 seconds of kick-off against Ipswich on Sunday, but his squad was even faster out of the blocks here, requiring just 49 seconds to seize the initiative. Alejandro Garnacho may have applied the decisive strike into an empty net, but full credit goes to Rasmus Højlund after he pressured Bodø goalkeeper Nikita Haikin and robbed him in his own 18-yard zone.

However, United failed to exploit a series of chances following their initial goal, and they were appropriately punished by a recurring issue, conceding twice in rapid succession in Europe to lose the lead for the fourth time in five UEL games. First, Håkon Evjen found a pocket of freedom between the defensive lines on the edge of the box and expertly curled a shot into the top corner, before a long pass behind Tyrell Malacia – starting his first senior appearance in well over a year – saw the Dutchman left for dead by Philip Zinckernagel, who still had enough energy to slot a precise finish beneath André Onana. The largest gathering of away supporters for a European clash at Old Trafford in recent history made their voices heard, with Amorim scratching his head at his squad being exposed at the back for both goals.

The stunned hosts needed a reaction, and on the stroke of half-time, Højlund superbly delivered one. Noussair Mazraoui’s excellent footwork gave him the opening to swing in a cross, which in one movement was controlled and driven into the bottom corner by Højlund between two defenders. Momentum was with the hosts after the interval, and they were inches away from regaining the lead when Mason Mount curled against the post. Moments later, the Red Devils were back in front, however, with a slick sequence that saw Mount send Manuel Ugarte down the right, culminating in the Uruguayan setting up Højlund to net his second goal of the match with a simple finish into the far corner.

Amorim’s half-time pep talk had clearly connected with his players, who appeared a much more unified side in the second period, yet securing a two-goal margin seemed beyond them as Garnacho missed a series of opportunities from advantageous positions, while Marcus Rashford also shot wide when well-placed in the penalty area. With second-half replacements Casemiro and Luke Shaw in the back three, United looked far from solid in defence, but late scares were rare, with Onana making a stoppage-time save from a free-kick to maintain their second consecutive UEL victory and move within a point of the automatic qualification spots. Bodø, meanwhile, suffer a second straight UEL loss to fall behind their esteemed hosts ahead of a weekend title clash on the domestic front.