Rasmus Højlund’s brace secured Manchester United a much-needed 2-1 Europa League comeback win at Viktoria Plzen, while Ruben Amorim celebrated his first away win as head coach.

After a promising start to life as Erik ten Hag’s successor, things went off track when the surprise departure of sporting director Dan Ashworth led to back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.

Amorim threatened a devastating third defeat in a row early in the second half after former Burnley striker Matej Vydra gave Pilsen the lead after young United fan Pavel Sulc parried a poor pass from André Onana.

But Højlund’s introduction from the bench turned things around in the freezing temperatures, with the substitute converting soon after Amad Diallo’s shot was blocked.

The visitors continued to knock on the door and two minutes before the end the Danish international converted a clever free kick from Bruno Fernandes with power, good touch and a powerful finish. With United’s first European away win since March 2023, they take a big step towards the knockout rounds.

Onana began to get nervous after suffering a costly breakdown against Forest on Saturday evening. The United goalkeeper accidentally bumped into Casemiro from a free-kick, handled a throw-in unconvincingly and saw a pass blocked during an awkward all-round start from the visitors.

Marcus Rashford, Diallo and Joshua Zirkzee all wasted dangerous moments before Fernandes finally forced Viktoria’s goalkeeper into action.

Pilsen offered little resistance, but Cheick Souaré’s shot from the edge of the box brought hope before half-time, as did a stoppage-time effort from Vydra. The United captain was allowed to gallop forward from the halfway line and scored a 20-yard shot that forced Martin Jedlicka to make a good save from deep. Just three minutes into the second half. Onana’s hesitation after receiving a back pass from Lisandro Martínez was sensed by Sulc, who deftly parried a pass intended for Matthijs de Ligt and channeled Vydra in to fire it home.

After that gut punch, United’s shaky performance continued, but Sulc almost undid his good work when Højlund deflected his free pass and fired in a low shot which Jedlicka parried.

The equalizer came in the 62nd minute. A quickly taken free kick caught Plzen and the game built up. Diallo cut beautifully past his man to save a shot that was blocked and fell into the path of Højlund, who directed the ball into the goal. Højlund was narrowly denied by a tempting cross from Fernandes as they pressed, but Viktoria went close at the other end when Prince Adu put a cross to Vydra, who hit just wide.

United struggled to find a winner. In the 77th minute, Viktoria’s goalkeeper made a good save to deny Mason Mount, with Jedlicka parrying it after Alejandro Garnacho and Manuel Ugarte came on. A clever set piece resulted in the winning goal in the 88th minute. Fernandes fired a low free kick to Højlund, who deflected his man, touched him and fired a low left-footed shot past the Pilsen goalkeeper.