International Champions Cup
Manchester United vs. Club America
Venue: CenturyLink Field
Date: Saturday, 18 July 2015
Kick-off: 04:00 BST
Manchester United began their pre-season tour of America win a 1-0 victory of Club America.
The Mexican side were beaten by Morgan Schneiderlin’s first United goal on debut in the fifth minute.
Memphis Depay and Matteo Darmian also started the first half, as a completely different XI took to the field after the interval, where Bastian Schweinsteiger was able to make his debut for the club.
The goal was the first piece of action of any note, as Ashley Young’s corner was cleared as far as Juan Mata, who’s deep cross with his weaker right foot saw Schneiderlin climb well and loop a header over Hugo Gonzalez and into the back of the net.
Mata himself nearly scored as his first time strike from Young’s pull-back was saved by Gonzalez.
Luke Shaw gave away a needless foul on the edge of the penalty area, nudging over Michael Arroyo, but captain Rubens Sambueza saw the resulting free-kick crash into the United wall before Arroyo saw a wayward effort fly wide of Sam Johnstone’s goal.
Daley Blind, playing a left centre-back, committed a dangerous challenge on Miguel Samudio that should have seen the CONCACAF Champions League winners awarded a penalty, but it wasn’t to be, as just moments later, Sambueza was booked for a foul on the lively Depay.
That knock did nothing to prevent Depay playing a delightful first time flick over the top of Club America’s defence from Phil Jones’ pass, to set Wayne Rooney free, but his left foot strike fell just wide of the post.
Andreas Pereira was one who caught the eye in the second half, and he flashed a left foot shot just wide in the opening exchanges after the break.
Jesse Lingard’s run led to the England U21 international finding Adnan Januzaj with a pull-back, and the number 11 struck a left footed shot towards goal, only for his effort to fall just wide.
Ander Herrera headed wide before a host of a Club America changes occurred midway through the second half, with two of those creating a golden opportunity, as Andre Marin’s pull-back found Alejandro Diaz, who struck the post with his effort.
A neat move from United led to Schweinsteiger’s flick finding Januzaj, who rode a challenge inside the area to maintain composure, before his venomous strike was palmed away by Gonzalez, before James Wilson failed to get a clean connection on Paddy McNair’s low cross.
Andrés Andrade saw a tame shot caught with ease by Anders Lindegaard, before captain for the half Chris Smalling was booked for a deliberate handball, despite the ball striking his shoulder.
Much to the relief of Smalling and United, Andrade blazed the resulting free-kick high into the stand.
The game finished with a narrow victory, but an important run out all the same in Seattle.
David de Gea and Antonio Valencia weren’t risked as they currently have “minor knocks” as Marouane Fellaini and Sean Goss were the other two to miss out; the former being suspended for the first three Premier League games due to his red card at Hull City on the final day, with Louis van Gaal experimenting with other options before utilising the Belgian.
MLS outfit San Jose Earthquakes are United’s next opponent, taking place in the early hours of Wednesday morning, with a 2am kick-off time BST.
Line-ups:
Manchester United first half: Johnstone; Darmian, Jones, Blind, Shaw; Carrick, Schneiderlin; Mata, Depay, Young; Rooney.
Manchester United second half: Lindegaard; McNair, Smalling, Evans, Blackett; Herrera, Schweinsteiger; Lingard, Pereira, Januzaj; Wilson.
Manager: Louis van Gaal
Club America: Gonzalez; Mares (Andrade 46), Aguilar (Marin 68), Sambueza, Goltz (Pimentel 31); Arroyo, Samudio (Sanchez 68), Guemez (Guerrero 68); Quintero (Diaz 68), Martinez (Colula 68), Buron.
Manager: Ignacio Ambriz