Farewell

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

The first half was bumpy and disjointed for United. But the submarines had a real impact. Obviously Hojlund scored two goals, but the other three were effective. Good decision making from Amorim. He wasn’t afraid to mix things up. And it worked.

Full time!

90 minutes (+3): Twice United were able to pull away with three free players and twice they messed up the final. United are holding on now.

90 minutes (+1): Mazraoui was given a yellow card for wasting time

90 minutes: Five more minutes of extra time.

That was great. Free kick from Fernandes from outside the penalty area. He takes it quickly and pushes it deep to Hojlund’s left. He is blocked by a Pilsen player, but hits the ball up with his left foot, turns around and shoots into the goal. Brilliant!

Goal!

84 mins: United presses hard. Garnacho on the left hits a ball with the outside of his foot. No result.
A minute later, Mount comes close again from the right. Thwarted again by the Pilsen goalkeeper.

United make two more substitutions

80 minutes: Only 10 minutes of regular playing time left. United should have been two points ahead by now. But they’re not…it’s still balanced.

76 mins: Somehow Mason Mount isn’t scoring. A great move by United results in three United players being free in the Pilsen penalty area. Mount takes the shot, but is blocked by the Plzen keeper. Another very good chance for United.

75 minutes: Antony’s shot from outside the Pilsen penalty area sails over the crossbar – and probably onto the ground. That was far away.

72 mins: Just missed Pilsen! New substitute Prince crosses from United’s right. Vydra grabs the ball and sends it just past Onana’s goal. That was close.

70 minutes: Hojlund misses!. Fernandes hits a great ball low from the left across the Pilsen penalty area. Hojlund slips in and just avoids contact.

68 minutes: United are calling for a penalty. VAR says no. Another United corner is whistled in. She is repelled by 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!

Substitutions at United

59 minutes: Great opportunity for Hojlund. He breaks free and looks like he’s standing right in front of the goalkeeper. But he slows down and shoots easily into Jedlicka’s hands.

58 mins: Zirkzee is ambushed on the halfway line by a group of three Pilsen players. The commentator I see on TV says that Zirkzee has lost the ball over a dozen times.

Substitution

53 mins: Rashford pounces on Plzen’s right-back Dweh. Lucky not to get booked? He’s already wearing yellow.

52 mins: I’m trying to analyze this goal – well, there’s not much to analyze other than one error.

50 minutes: This goal was scored after 48 minutes. Just three minutes after rebooting. A minor disaster for United.

Goal! Plzen score.

Second half

Half time

45 minutes: Marcus Rashford was shown a yellow card after roughly pushing a Pilsen player on the halfway line. There is nothing special about the resulting free kick.

43 mins: Pilsen threatens with a shot from the left outside the penalty area that doesn’t quite sneak into Onana’s top left corner.

40 mins: Free kick for Pilsen after a foul by Mazraoui outside United’s penalty area. It goes nowhere when one of the crowd of Pilsen players heads the ball backwards for United’s goal kick.

37 mins: Lots of back and forth but nothing of substance. United appear to be the more dangerous team, but they are unable to get the right passes to the right players.