RASMUS HOJLUND borrowed a scene from The Gladiator as he put Bodo Glimt to the sword.
When the Danish striker equalised to make it 2-2 at halftime, he ran to the legions of fans in the East Stand, put his thumb up, and then turned it down, adding a cut-throat gesture.
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The signal replicated that from a Roman Emperor for an opponent to be finished off.
Hojlund did just that when he added his second in the 50th minute as the invaders from Norway who had been so vocal at 2-1 up found their team slain by the end.
“Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?”, Hojlund might have cried to The Stretford End at the close of a thrilling contest.
It was a much-needed night for Hojlund, who could easily have been hailed as ‘Maxuimus Misses’ during his time at Old Trafford.
But on night’s like this you can see why Erik ten Hag bought him, and pleaded for patience.
In his first two games in charge of Manchester United new boss Ruben Amorim has ordered his troops to “unleash hell.”
They did just that after 80 seconds to lead at Ipswich and it took just 48 seconds to do just that in this contest that saw United’s hopes of automatic qualification for the Europa knockout stages revived.
Credit Hojlund for chasing down Jostein Gundersen’s back pass as he was alert from the first trumpet.
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Man Utd ratings vs Bodo/Glimt
Goalkeeper Nikita Haikin casually let the ball run across him and Hojlund slid in to to wrestle it free and Garnacho fired home.
What a start for United – who are now 12th and one point away from eighth in their European league phase standings.
But as at Ipswich it did not lead to a dominant first half display.
In fact, on both occasions, the impetus gained from the early boost was immediately lost as the intensity dropped.
It was like the days of Louis van Gaal, as the ball was slowly swapped between players without a lot happening.
The visitors were happy to wait and pounce.
They did that in the 19th minute as they won possession from Matthijs De Ligt’s hurried clearance.
In a blur of yellow the Bodo players swarmed forward and Sondre Brunstad Fet pulled the ball back for Hakon Evjen who released a stunning shot from the edge of the area into the far top corner.
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The away end of nearly 7,000 fans who made the journey here were delirious.
They could not quite believe it four minutes later when their side took the lead.
The wisdom of giving fit again Tyrell Malacia his first football in 550 days, having not even had a subs appearance, was called into question in the build-up.
When Patrick Berg fired a ball down the right flank the United wing back had a yard start, but in a flash was two paces behind, as Philip Zinckermagel went past him like road runner.
All Malacia could do was fling out a hopeful arm to try and knock him off his stride.
The Bodo player was too fast, too strong, powering his way into the box before firing low past Andre Onana into the far bottom corner.
It could have been three when Evjen was teed up once more but fired over.
Then United dug deep to earn an equaliser right on half time.
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Noussair Mazraoui did well to win possession and then chip a cross into the area.
Hojlund flicked the ball up with his left foot and fired a volley home with his right, before setting off in celebration.
United maintained the momentum from that as the returning Mason Mount hit the bar shortly after the restart.
Then the Red Devils took the lead as Hojliund finished off a great move.
Mazraoui was involved against playing the ball forward for the returning Mount whose clever flick rolled into the path of Bruno Fernandes.
And Manuel Ugarte‘s square ball was perfectly waited to beat a VAR check as Hojlund suck out a foot and turned it in.
But it was a nervy finish as the visitors earned a free-kick on the edge of the box after a clever foul from Casemiro.
Berg fired the ball over the wall but Onana dive to his right to push the ball away to safety with a quick VAR quick cleared.
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So victory for Amorim in his first game in charge at Old Trafford.
Much to be positive about too.
It was not just Hojlund’s goals but the performances of Mazraoui and Mount.
Garnacho was all action again, he missed alot of chances but he scores too and never stops.
It is something to build on.
All Hail Ruben the sixth…manager since Fergie.
Hopefully his campaign will last a bit longer than the rest who tried to replicate the triumphs of English football’s great conqueror.
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