RASMUS Hojlund broke his pre-season duck with a double to send out a message of intent – as Manchester United made it two out of two in the USA.
Hojlund had woken to reports that Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is being lined up to be the Old Trafford line leader, with club chiefs plotting a £70million move for the Slovenian.
APRasmus Hojlund reacted to Man Utd’s Benjamin Sesko transfer news in style[/caption]
GettyPatrick Dorgu shined again at wing-back as he grabbed the second[/caption]
AFPAmad Diallo found his mark with a clinical finish for the third[/caption]
AFPEven when Ruben Amorim rang the changes the flow did not stop[/caption]
GettyTeenager Ethan Williams was also on target[/caption]
But if the Dane was looking to make his mark, he did so inside eight minutes at Soldier Field to set a United side without both big-money summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo on course for victory.
As the impressive Patrick Dorgu came inside onto his right foot, Hojlund ghosted away from Marcos Senesi, to glance the ball past static keeper Djordje Petrovic and into the bottom corner.
Hojlund’s celebrations demonstrated his delight, pawing the air with his left fist and with a smile as wide as the Chicago River.
With the swirling winds and teeming rain making it feel far more like Manchester than the Midwest of the US, Hojlund’s goal after blanks against Leeds and West Ham felt like a big moment.
He looked like he had been sparked by it, showing muscularity and intent, making runs into dangerous areas.
And while Hojlund claimed the last touch as Amad Diallo scored the third, he had caused chaos and confusion with his physicality in the build-up.
It was another excellent evening for Ruben Amorim, all the more so after Cunha had joined the worryingly long missing list with the Brazilian having reported “fatigue” earlier in the day, although he asked Amorim to let him play.
Mason Mount moved on from a ponderous start to send Dorgu away for United’s second, Amad was impish in a more attacking role, while one Luke Shaw sliding tackle on Antoine Semenyo was outstanding.
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United, full of intensity from the start against a surprisingly sluggish Bournemouth, were good value for their win and could have had more, Mount scraping the post with a 20-yarder at the start of the second period.
Even when Amorim rang the changes, having swapped nine more outfield players with 20 minutes left, it did not interrupt the flow.
Teenager Ethan Williams found the back of the net with virtually his first touch to make it four, although half-time arrival Matthijs de Ligt completed the scoring when he inadvertently turned David Brooks’ cross-shot into his own net.
Nothing, though, could prevent this being Hojlund’s night – even if it might not be enough to change the manager’s mind about the need for a new No9.
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