Morgan Schneiderlin marked his Manchester United debut with a goal in the 1-0 pre-season friendly win over Club America in Seattle this morning.
The France midfielder netted with a looping header after just six minutes in a relatively evenly-fought opening half at Century Links Field.
United dominated the second period but failed to build on their advantage, as Schneiderlin - a £24m purchase from Southampton this week - finished his bow as the matchwinner.
Below, relive our text commentary of the clash.
Three weeks. 21 days. 513 hours. That's how long we've got left until the Premier League season gets underway again. Excited? Me too, but pace yourself because we've got the pre-season friendlies to whet the appetite - and there's a decent one this morning. Indeed, Manchester United clash with Club America at Century Link Field in the International Champions Cup. Let's go!
Like a zombie feasting on Neville Southall, there's a bit to chew on this morning, but first let's get into some team news, shall we? Why not.
UNITED XI: Johnstone; Darmian, Jones, Blind, Shaw, Carrick, Schneiderlin, Young, Mata, Memphis, Rooney
CLUB AMERICA XI: Gonzalez; Buron, Aguilar, Goltz, Mares; Guemez, Samudio, Martinz, Sambueza; Quintero, Arroyo
Big news for United as three of their four summer signings so far earn debuts. First, Matteo Darmian starts at right-back, while Morgan Schneiderlin and Memphis Depay also start in midfield and on the wing respectively. No sign of Bastian Schweinsteiger, while Wayne Rooney spearheads the attack.
Meanwhile, Darwin Quintero is one of the stand-out names on the Club America team sheet. The Colombian winger found the net in the side's last Champions Cup encounter with LA Galaxy, which ended in a 2-1 defeat.
There's also no sign of goalkeeper David de Gea. Was he a flightrisk afterall and he's actually boarded a plane to Madrid? Nope, he actually just has a minor injury, according to Louis van Gaal. Instead, Sam Johnstone starts between the sticks, in the absence of Victor Valdes, who was subjected to quite a scathing assault by Van Gaal recently.
The Dutchman suggested that his Spanish counterpart was heading for the exit door at Old Trafford after only six months, for refusing to play for the reserves. It seems like his Premier League career is heading in One Direction. Speaking of which. That segue way though:
The venue for our first #MUtour match had some other famous visitors this week, @OneDirection. pic.twitter.com/Y8UGVvsf01
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 17, 2015
Incidentally, if the lads are still looking to replace Zayn then Depay surely fits the bill. He's got those boyband looks, but with quite a bit more talent - as Premier League defenders will discover in the coming months and years surely. All eyes will be on him this morning following his £25m move from PSV Eindhoven.
If any PSG fans want to buy the lettering on that boy's shirt I'm sure he'll do you a good deal.
These fans at CenturyLink are ready for action. Where are you watching the game? #MUtour pic.twitter.com/kVPjvSWbBI
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 18, 2015
What a goal by @JuanMata8! See more Tour training footage on #MUTV: http://t.co/at3jreC0gz
https://t.co/38S7W5bj3o
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 17, 2015
Historically, games that take place on US soil don't tend to kick off on time. Like never. Consequently, we could be set for a brief delay. Very brief. Quicker than Fabian Delph's u-turn to join Manchester City from Aston Villa.
Looks like the officials didn't get the memo on North American kickoffs. They're lined up in the tunnel, waiting to enter the field. Problem is neither team is behind them as of yet.
Oh. Here they are. Could we be about to see a North American game kick off on time? Well, no, because it's already four and they're only in the tunnel, but they're still making good time by their standards.
Depay is also sporting a couple of mutton chops on either side of his face. What's faux pas in Dutch?
KICKOFF: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off in Seattle. More like Sleepless in Dublin, because it's 4 am here, but here's to hoping that we get a thrilling encounter here. United kick us off....
We thought Juan Mata was going to start at number 10, with Ashley Young and Depay on the wing, but Depay is behind Rooney, while Mata lines up on the right wing it seems thus far. Surely experimental from Van Gaal?
Quite an ominous start for new boy Schneiderlin, who loses possession in the middle of the field as Darwin Quintero runs through on goal, but his ball for Rubens Sambueza was flagged offside. What's French for faux pas?
GOAL! Club America 0-1 Man United (Morgan Schneiderlin)
Didn't take long, did it? United are one goal ahead through debutant Schneiderlin, who climbs above Gil Buron to see his looping header drop into the far corner past Hugo Gonzalez. Juan Mata floated a wonderful cross to the back post with his weaker right foot and it's 1-0. Ominous start for the Mexican outfit.
CHANCE! What a response this would've been from Club America, as a dangerous ball is fizzed into the box. Quintero looks like tapping home, but he misses it. However, Arroyo looks certain to slide home at the back post, but he misses it as well! There's a good tempo to this one.
It's been such a mixed debut for Schneiderlin. He scored, but he's also just been dispossessed yet again a few moments ago as Club America break on the counter, which ultimately comes to nothing. We flagged Darwin Quintero as a threat earlier on, and he looks a tricky customer thus far.
CHANCE! Decent chance for United to make it two now, as Ashley Young's cut-back is met by Mata, who drills a left-footed first-time shot at goal but Gonzalez is down low to make the save.
In fact, Depay and Rooney have swapped roles and it's actually the Dutchman playing up front now! I'm not a United fan, but I'm guessing they'll want him to unimpress in that role, as impressing may reduce the likelyhood of signing a striker. Surely not, though.
Luke Shaw concedes a free kick in a dodgy area now by nudging Quintero over just outside the box. This is promising for the Mexican side....
It comes to nothing, however. It's been very much the story of Club America's half thus far.
Great start for Schneiderlin
— Bryan Robson (@bryanrobson) July 18, 2015
SHOT! Club America have arguably been the better team here in Seattle, and Osvaldo Martinez goes close with a fierce thump that sailed narrowly over the crossbar. United yet to hit top gear. They're a little disjointed in the final third.
Depay in a central role hasn't worked at all thus far. He's alternating with Rooney between striker and number 10, but hasn't done much in either position as of yet. Far better suited on the right-wing I'd imagine.
Half-an-hour in and we've seen our first real bit of substance from Depay, who plays a beautiful deft through pass for Mata, but the chance fizzles out when the Spaniard loses it.
PENALTY APPEAL! Rubens Sambueza is furious - and rightly so. He's been clipped inside the box by Daley Blind, but the referee, somewhat inexplicably, waves play on! Should've been a penalty. Hands down.
BOOKING: Incidentally, Rubens Sambueza has been booked for his dissent. First yellow of the game, but probably not the last. For a friendly, this one is quite feisty.
CHANCE! We've seen the good of Memphis Depay in this match, with his clever through ball. We've seen the ugly of Memphis Depay in this match, with his shocking Elvis-esque sideburns. And we've now seen the bad from the Dutchman, who elects to shoot instead of playing in the overlapping Ashley Young. He's a selfish player so, sadly, Young and his teammates must get use to that aspect of his game.
CHANCE! Depay plays an exquisite through ball for Rooney, who is hurried into the shot and he rifles one narrowly wide of Gonzalez's goal.
There's a touch of the Manuel Neuers about Sam Johnstone, who has rushed off his line for the 40th time this morning to clear another over-the-top ball from Club America.
HALF TIME: Club America 0-1 Manchester United
Both sets of players are back on the field now - and Schweinsteiger is among the second-half subs it seems!
RESTART! In fact, it's 11 changes by Van Gaal! Here's the second-half lineup: Lindegaard, McNair, Smalling, Evans, Blackett, Lingard, Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Pereira, Januzaj, Wilson
Decent debut from Schneiderlin, who scored the only goal thus far. So-so from Matteo Darmian at right-back, and, in truth, rather poor from Depay overall. In his defence, he was played at number 10 and centre-forward for his 45-minute cameo. Let' see if Schweinsteiger is more Schneiderlin than Depay on his bow.
CLOSE! What a goal this would've been for Andreas Pereira, who produced a fine bit of skill to deceive his marker, before drilling a low and left-footed drive narrowly wide of the far post. Fine effort.
BOOKING: Quite an eventful start to the game for Pereira, who now goes into the book for a lunge on Osvaldo Martinez. It's 1-1 in the yellow card stakes.
CHANCE! Excellent start to the half this by United, who go close again. Pereira is at the heart of it again, as his exquisite cross is almost headed home by Januzaj, but the Belgian completely misses the ball from point-blank range. That delivery deserved a goal in truth.
CLOSE! This one is never ending 1-0, isn't it? It's another chance for United. Jesse Lingard brings the ball forward in a swift counter on the right, before pulling back for Januzaj, whose left-footed drive flies just wide. Pereira was shouting for it and perhaps he was the better choice.
What is this madness? Three minutes without a goalscoring chance? Well I never. Rest assure that we will see more chances. I'm not too sure if we will see them from Club America, who have been well and truly second best in this half, but let's see.
The sting has just been taken out of this one in recent minutes. Club America slowly but surely coming into the game a little more. Still, I fully expect United to win by a few goals in the end. The Mexican side look tired.
Mexican waves are fantastic, aren't they? It may be the only time I've seen one take place when a Mexican team were playing, too.
SUBS: Club America make five changes now. Understandable, because a lot of them looked absolutely jaded!
CLOSE! So close to a second yet again for the Red Devils, as Schweinsteiger floats a wonderful ball into the box and Herrera heads back across goal. There's plenty of red shirts in the vicinity, but none can get on the end of his header. 20 minutes left for Van Gaal's men to kill this one off once and for all.
Those five subs haven't really freshened things up for Club America, who are still being outplayed and outfought here in Seattle. Still time though.
OFF THE POST! Just as I say that, United are reminded of how fragile their one-goal lead is, as Alejandro Diaz taps against the post from close range after his teammate did brilliantly to keep the ball in play. Now then. Could we be about to see an end-to-end last 15 minutes.
SHOT! Herrera could, and maybe should, have put the game to bed here but his close-range shot was blocked by a defender. Still, probably should be 2-0 and game over, but it's still all to play for if you're of a Club America persuasion.
There's roughly eight minutes left and, as it stands, it's going to be 1-0. Don't ask me how, because United have had enough chances in this game to win 9-1 - but it's only 1-0! Still, LVG won't care much, will he?
The aplty-named Rifle has probably Club America's last chance of the game as he drills a free kick well over the bar from a good position. More like Spud Gun.
Schweinsteiger has enjoyed a solid enough debut by all accounts. He's gone about his business very quietly and effectively throughout his 45-minute cameo. There's big questions hanging over the 30-year-old this season.
FULL TIME: Club America 0-1 Manchester United
That's all she wrote in Seattle, folks. United, courtesy of Morgan Schneiderlin's goal on six minutes, earn a 1-0 win - but it should've been a better win. They dominated the second half and spurned a host of chances, but Van Gaal's men held on despite their profligacy.
Anywho, that's game. Thanks for joining our live commentary and we'll see you next time. Until then....
Written by
Shane Callaghan
Shane Callaghan
