Manchester United came from behind to defeat Hong Kong 3-1 in the final match of their pre-season tour of Asia on Friday.
Having lost 1-0 to the ASEAN All Stars on Wednesday, Man United were looking to return to winning ways as they brought their stopover in Asia to an end.
Just over a minute in, Casemiro drove a witty cross to Alejandro Garnacho on the left wing, but Hong Kong’s defence held steady to break down the attack.
Clearly looking to impress their fans in Hong Kong, United looked to dominate possession, camping in the hosts’ final third.
Bruno Fernandes popped a slick long ball to Rasmus Hojlund, who dribbled past two defenders, only for the goalkeeper to save his shot from close range.
Five minutes in, it appeared that United got the breakthrough when Casemiro got on the end of a Fernandes free-kick, performing an impressive diving header to bury the ball in the back of the net. Unfortunately, he was ruled offside.
In the 12th minute, Fernandes stepped up to take a free-kick. While a threatening shot, the keeper was able to parry the ball out for a corner. While the first corner was unsuccessful, the follow-up corner was more effective, with Garnacho hammering a low shot at the near post that the goalkeeper was able to save once again. It was an impressive performance so far from Ka Wing Tse.
Garnacho raced into the box from the left flank yet again, cutting the ball back to Shea Lacey, whose shot drifted wide of the far post. It was difficult to believe how United had not yet broken the deadlock.
Then, against the run of play, Hong Kong broke the deadlock. In the 19th minute, striker Juninho raced into the box, firing a thunderous shot into the bottom corner of the goal, leaving Tom Heaton with no chance of saving the near-post strike. It was a fine finish by the Brazilian, who converted his side’s first shot of the game.
27 minutes in, Lacey’s cameo came to an end as he was replaced by Tyler Robert Fletcher. Meanwhile, Casemiro made way for Sekou Kone.
In the 35th minute, United fired a barrage of shots at the Hong Kong goal. Fernandes attempted a rabona which the keeper did well to save. While Hojlund completely missed the follow-up, Jaydan Kamason raced into the box to take a shot that was blocked on the line. It was a wonder that United didn’t score there.
Despite being heavily marked, Garnacho managed to squeeze his way into the box and take a shot from the left that Tse saved.
Three minutes from the break, United earned another corner. Fernandes’ cross found Tyler Fredericson, whose header was saved by a resilient keeper.
It was a disappointing end to the half as United went into the break a goal down. With a mammoth 15 shots and 71% possession to Hong Kong’s one attempt, United really should be doing far better in a match such as this.
Hopefully, Amorim used the break to rethink his strategy and determine what effective changes could be made to his lineup to change United’s fortunes.
A whole new United lineup raced out of the tunnel for the second half, with Amorim switching his entire team.
Altay Bayindir, Mason Mount, Patrick Dorgu, Amad Diallo, Manuel Ugarte, Ayden Heaven, Kobbie Mainoo, Toby Collyer, Chido Obi, Reece Stafford Munro, and Daniel James Armer all took to the field as United’s fresh starting XI.
Four minutes after the break, United were back in it. Mainoo laid the ball off to Ugarte, who was fouled on the edge of the box, but not before he got the ball off to Obi up front. The young striker did brilliantly to lose his marker with a quick spin before firing the ball with his left foot into the far corner. 1-1.
55 minutes in, Mount received the ball outside the box, thumping a blistering low shot goalwards to force a save from the goalkeeper.
On the hour mark, Mount crossed the ball to Obi in the box, whose header drifted wide of the post. United seemed to be fighting hard to grab the lead.
66 minutes in, Mount whipped in a lethal ball that drifted just wide of the far post. It was a pity that nobody was able to get a foot to it to put United in the lead.
A minute later, Hong Kong launched a rare counter-attack, forcing a decent save from Bayindir.
In the 74th minute, Mainoo missed a sitter. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, Mainoo cut into the box and floated his shot over the bar despite having clearly beaten the keeper. He would have surely been disappointed with his error.
With nine minutes of regular time to play, United grabbed the lead. It was Obi at the forefront yet again, getting on the end of a slick cross from Mount, which he headed past the keeper. 2-1 to United.
In the 87th minute, United earned a free-kick on the left wing. Mount curled a cross into the box only for Amad to fire the ball wide.
A minute before full time, Bayindir caught a threatening cross to deny a late Hong Kong attack.
Four minutes of added time were announced, giving United some extra time to find another goal to top off the win.
Seconds before the full-time whistle, Heaven got on the end of a threatening cross to score with an emphatic header. 3-1 to United to secure a convincing win to secure a decent result in what was a thrilling match for their Hong Kong fans to enjoy.
Starting XI: Heaton, Fernandes, Hojlund, Garnacho, Casemiro, Evans, Amass, Fredericson, Lacey, Kamason, Kukonki
Subs: Fletcher, Kone, Bayindir, Mount, Dorgu, Amad, Ugarte, Heaven, Mainoo, Collyer, Obi, Munro, Armer
Featured image Matt McNulty via Getty Images
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