Viktoria Plzen v Manchester United: Europa League – as it happened | Europa League

Goodbye

United move up to 5th in the Europa League table, meaning if they can maintain that position they will automatically qualify for the last 16.

The first half was scrappy and disjointed for United. But the subs had a real effect. It is clear that Højlund scored twice, but the other three were effective. Good decision making by Amorim. He wasn’t afraid to shake things up. And it worked.

Full time!

90 minutes (+3): Twice United have broken out with three free players and twice they have messed up the end. United are now holding firm.

90 minutes (+1): Mazraoui booked for time wasting

90 minutes: Five minutes of extra time left.

It was fantastic. Free kick by Fernandes outside the box. He takes it quickly and pushes it low to Højlund’s left. He is guarded by a Plzen player but flicks the ball up with his left foot and turns to shoot at goal. Brilliant!

Goal!

84 minutes: United are pushing hard. Garnacho on the left whips a ball in with the outside of his foot. No result.
A minute later Mount goes close again from the right. Thwarted again by the Plzen keeper.

United make two more substitutions

80 minutes: Only 10 minutes left of normal time. United should have been two clear by now. But they’re not… it’s still even.

76 minutes: Somehow Mason Mount doesn’t score. A great move from United leads to three free United players in the Plzen box. Mount takes the shot but it is smothered by the Plzen keeper. Another very good chance for United.

75 minutes: Antony’s shot outside the Plzen area sails over the bar – and probably out of the ground. It was far away.

72 minutes: Plzen nearby!. New substitute Prince crosses from United’s right. Vydra latches onto the ball and sends it just past Onana’s goal. It was close.

70 minutes: Højlund misses!. Fernandes whips a nice ball in from the left across the Plzen box. Højlund slides in and just avoids contact.

68 minutes: United ask for a penalty kick. VAR says no. Another corner for United is whipped in. It is being pushed out of Plzen.

67 minutes: United are pressing hard now. A ping-png in the Plzen box is followed by another run into the box by Mason Mount. It’s a corner for United.

It’s Plzen 1 Man Utd 1

Goal!

United substitutions

59 minutes: Great chance for Højlund. He breaks free and looks like he is one on one with the goalkeeper. But he slows down and shoots easily into Jedlicka’s hands.

58 minutes: Zirkzee is robbed on the halfway line by a possession by three Plzen players. The commentator on the TV I’m watching says Zirkzee has dropped the ball well over a dozen times.

Substitution

53 minutes: Rashford pounces on Plzen’s right back Dweh. Are you lucky not to be booked? He is already on a yellow.

52 minutes: trying to dissect that target – well not much to dissect other than a bug.

50 minutes: that goal was clocked at 48 minutes. Only three minutes after the restart. A bit of a disaster for United.

Goal! Pilsen scores.

Second half

Half time

45 minutes: Marcus Rashford was shown a yellow card for an apparent push on a Plzen player on the halfway line. Nothing special comes from the resulting free kick.

43 minutes: Plzen threatens with a curling shot from the left from outside the box that doesn’t quite sneak into Onana’s top left corner.

40 minutes: free kick for Plzen after a foul by Mazraoui outside the United box. It comes to nothing with one of a crowd of Plzen players heading it behind for a United goal kick.

37 minutes: A lot of back and forth but nothing of substance. United look the more dangerous side, but they can’t quite get the right passes to the right players.