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Manchester United crushed Bodo/Glimt for win; Tottenham Hotspur held for draw against AS Roma

Football: Under new manager Ruben Amorim, Manchester United got off to a strong start at Old Trafford, defeating Norwegian team Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League after rallying from behind. While Tottenham Hotspur draw against AS ROMA

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Varun Sarwate
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Under new manager Ruben Amorim, Manchester United got off to a strong start at Old Trafford, defeating Norwegian team Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League after rallying from behind. In Amorim's first game as manager at Ipswich, United scored after just 81 seconds, and this time it only took them 48 seconds to score.

Alejandro Garnacho scored a tap-in after goalie Nikita Haikin made a disastrous mistake that mysteriously enabled Rasmus Hojlund to shut him down as he attempted a routine clearing. Bodo/Glimt flipped the game on its head with two goals in four minutes to take the lead with barely a quarter of the game remaining, but instead of setting the stage for an easy victory, it was the beginning of a frustrating spell for the home team.

Fortunately for United, Rasmus Hojlund equalized the score before halftime with a spectacular finish that sent Amorim into a roar of joy. Five minutes into the second session, Hojlund scored a close-range goal to seal the victory after Manuel Ugarte's cross. 

Ruben Amorim will be happy with a result that increases United's prospects of finishing in the top eight of the Europa League standings and earning automatic passage to the round of 16 in March, but he will be annoyed by the amount of opportunities his team missed to win. Garnacho was heavily responsible. One attempt was sent across the goal by the Argentine when teammates were in a better position. Amad Diallo then put him up, and he curled a shot over without any pressure. 

As United pressed, substitute Marcus Rashford also missed a shot. However, the fourth would not materialize, resulting in a few anxious minutes until Amorim's first victory since leaving Sporting earlier this month was announced by the final whistle. 

Tottenham Hotspur against AS Roma ended in draw

Claudio Ranieri's Roma frustrated Tottenham in the Europa League when veteran defender Mats Hummels grabbed a late equalizer. Playing his first European game since the Champions League final in July, the 35-year-old Germany international gave up a penalty in the fifth minute but made apologies by tapping in Angelino's whipped cross in stoppage time.

Son Heung-min converted the penalty that Hummels gave away, and Brennan Johnson scored a fantastic first-time goal following a Dejan Kulusevski cutback, giving Spurs the lead for most of the game. After Son's penalty and Stephan El Shaarawry's superb strike that was disallowed by VAR for offside, defender Evan N'Dicka equalized. However, Spurs should have increased their advantage in the first half when Dominic Solanke stopped a shot, Son blasted over a rebound after the post was struck by the in-form Kulusevski, and Johnson had a shot pushed off the line.

Spurs seemed in control of the game and had the opportunity to take a larger advantage, but Roma's burst of second-half chances, especially former Manchester City wing-back Angelino's first-time volley onto the bar, were warning signs. With games against Rangers, Hoffenheim, and Elfsborg yet to come, Spurs are now in ninth place in the Europa League league phase standings, outside of the top eight that avoid a play-off encounter. 

UEFA Europa League Manchester United Tottenham Hotspur football AS Roma
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