Manchester United continued their pre-season tour of Scandinavia with a 2-1 comeback win over fellow European heavyweights Atletico Madrid in Stockholm.
Arnau Ortiz put Atletico in front in the opening five minutes as a fine cross got the better of defenders and keeper Tom Heaton alike, but United were the better side from then on and were rewarded for their perseverance in the second half.
Youngster Shea Lacey won a penalty as he was brought down in the box which Bryan Mbeumo coolly converted, before the Cameroon striker doubled his and United’s advantage as he turned home a deflected cross by Jack Fletcher.
The win kicks off a run of exciting friendlies for Michael Carrick’s side, who will also face Paris Saint-Germain, fierce rivals Leeds and AC Milan – with the likes of £35m summer signing Youri Tielemans and first-choice keeper Senne Lammens expected to return for those clashes – before their Premier League curtain-raiser at Hull City.
Follow all the action from the pre-season friendly below:
United’s next fixtures
Friendlies
August 8: Man Utd vs PSG – Gothenburg, 4pm
August 12: Man Utd vs Leeds – Dublin, 7.30pm
August 15: Man Utd vs AC Milan – Wroclaw, 3.45pm
Premier League
August 22: Hull City vs Man Utd – MKM Stadium, 12.30pm
FULL-TIME: Man Utd 2-1 Atletico Madrid
Some good performances from the United youngsters, with Jack Fletcher contributing to Mbeumo’s second goal and JJ Gabriel making his first senior appearance.
Luke Shaw joshes Shea Lacey and has his arm around 15-year-old Gabriel as they celebrate lifting the Snapdragon Cup.
FULL-TIME: Man Utd 2-1 Atletico Madrid
Time’s up in Stockholm and Michael Carrick will be pleased with that, his squad looked cohesive and positive, with particularly good displays from Shea Lacey, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven.
And of course Bryan Mbeumo, whose second-half double sealed the win, first converting a cool penalty before a late stroke of luck.
Man Utd 2-1 Atletico Madrid
‘90+3: Luque lets fly from distance and it narrowly heads over the crossbar! Late scare for Heaton.
Man Utd 2-1 Atletico Madrid
‘90: Gabriel tries to shrug off his defender but has a shot blocked.
Man Utd 2-1 Atletico Madrid
‘87: Mount fancies a punt from distance but it doesn’t trouble Salvi Esquivel.
Man Utd 2-1 Atletico Madrid
‘85: Late drama as Hjulmand clatters off the post and Atletico have another shot away but it drifts wide!
Man Utd 2-1 Atletico Madrid
‘82: Andrey Santos has also come off, for Thwaites.
