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Pre-season Friendlies
Jul 30, 2014 at 12.30am UK
 
Manchester United logo

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Man Utd win 5-3 on penalties

Live Commentary: Inter Milan 0-0 Manchester United - as it happened

Sports Mole's live text commentary of the friendly match between Inter Milan and Manchester United at FedEx Field.
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Inter Milan and Manchester United played out a goalless draw in their International Champions Cup clash at FedEx Field.

Phil Jones and Tom Cleverley had the best chances to score for the Reds in a game that they dominated.

With the match finishing level after 90 minutes, penalty kicks were needed to separate the teams and it was United who triumphed 5-3 in the shootout.

Found out how the action unfolded below.


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Good evening and thank you for joining Sports Mole for live text commentary of the friendly match between the Inter Milan and Manchester United at FedEx Field.

Two of football's most successful club's meet today in Maryland as they continue their preparations for the new season. Man Utd and Inter have both won the European Cup three times in their history and have won a total of 38 league titles between them.



INTER MILAN XI: Handanovic, Ranocchia, Vidic, Jesus, D'Ambrosio, Jonathan, Kuzmanovic, Krhin, Dodo, Botta, Icardi

MAN UTD XI: Lindegaard, Smalling, Jones, Evans, Valencia, Fletcher, Herrera, Young, Mata, Rooney, Welbeck

As expected for Inter Milan, Nemanja Vidic lines up against his old team, where he is joined by Juan Jesus and Andrea Ranocchia in a back three. Rene Krhin, Zdravko Kuzmanovic and Ruben Botta all get their chance to impress in the midfield, while Argentine striker Mauro Icardi leads the attack.

Manchester United continue with their 3-5-2 formation, with Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck starting up front. Juan Mata and Ashley Young will be looking to support them, while Darren Fletcher has been handed the captain's armband

This is the second game of the International Champions Cup for both sides. Man Utd won their first Group A match 3-2 against Roma , while Inter Milan beat Real Madrid in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw. A win for United this evening will put them on the verge of making it through to the final next Monday in Florida.


They may have both retired, but Javier Zanetti and Ryan Giggs are both at the match today and still play an important role for their clubs. Giggs is now the assistant manager to Louis van Gaal at the Reds, while Zanetti has take the role as vice-president for the Italians.



If we have anything like the action that happened during United's last match against Roma we will be in for a treat. The Reds were 3-0 up by half-time, with Rooney bagging a double. The Giallorossi pulled two goals back after the break, including a sensational strike from Miralem Pjanic from inside his own half. Meanwhile, Inter managed to beat Real Madrid in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw, in a match that included a stunning goal from Gareth Bale.

PREDICTION: With five minutes to go until the kick off it's time to make a prediction on how the match will end. Of course it is incredibly tough to predict how friendlies will end, given the fact that there will surely be a number of changes from each manager. On form, I have to go with United to extend their winning streak, and I feel that we could have another entertaining match this evening, with a 3-1 victory to Van Gaaal's men how I see this finishing.

I can tell you that the players are out on the pitch and the match should be getting underway in just a few minutes.

KICKOFF! We are underway at FedEx Field!

We haven't see too much in the way of chances so far, but the game has started at a good pace, with both teams looking like they will search for their wide men down the flanks as much as possible.

Inter are seeing plenty of the ball in the early stages, with former United captain Vidic sat in the middle of the back three. He has sprayed a couple of long balls over the top looking for Icardi, but their opponents' defence have dealt with the threat so far.

Rooney combines well with Valencia down the right and the Ecuadorian gets free down the wing, before looking for Welbeck in the middle, but his cross is blocked and cleared behind at the front post for a corner.

SAVE! From the resulting set piece United come close to taking the lead as Jones meets the ball with a powerful header that looks set for the bottom corner, but he sees his effort brilliantly saved by Handanovic.

Down the other end Inter win a corner of their own, but Vidic can only head the ball over the bar under pressure from Rooney. Moments later they have another opening when Jonathan finds himself in space just inside the box, before curling a deflected effort over.

YELLOW CARD! It may be a friendly, but United have picked up an early booking, with Valencia penalized for foul on Dodo.

CHANCE! Inter almost make the set piece count, as Ranocchia rises highest in the box to meet the delivery, but he can only direct his header over the bar.

CHANCE! Rooney has looked good in pre-season and after working some space outside the box, he tries to curl an effort into the top corner, but he just gets too much on his effort and is unable to test Handanovic.

As we approach the midway stage in this half it is United who are bossing the play and they look comfortable in possession. Their opponents though are holding firm and are making sure that it won't be easy to get in behind their backline.

Inter seem content to sit back and soak up the pressure before launching their attacks. It has been clear to see that their gameplan involves trying to pick out Icardi and their wide men with long balls over the top, but with United playing three central defenders it won't be easy.

Once again United put together a number of neat passes in the midfield, with Valencia and Rooney showing their class, but as they approach the area Inter get plenty of men back and the attack breaks down.

United win a free kick in a promising position and send plenty of men into the box, with Mata standing over the ball. The Spaniard then whips a cross into the middle, but his delivery is far too long and the keeper is able to claim with ease.

The way that Vidic is playing, you would think that he has been at Inter for years. The 32-year-old still has plenty to offer and by the looks of things he can be a big success for the Italians.

We really have been short of chances so far, with both defences clearly on top. With both managers playing three at the back it is tough for the forwards to cause a threat, and Icardi looks stranded on his own.

It's almost brilliant from United. Some of their play in the midfield has been exceptional and they are nearly in behind when Rooney slides Mata in to the box, but the midfielder's cross is cut out before any of his teammates can reach the ball.

CHANCE! Mata comes close to lighting up this first half. The Spaniard picks the ball up around 25 yards out from goal, before unleashing a fierce drive that goes just wide of the post with Handanovic at full stretch.

Despite all of United's pressure, Inter almost have the chance to take the lead at the end of the half. The Reds give the ball away and D'Ambrosio fires in a strike that deflects through to Icardi, but his effort on goal is well blocked by the defence.

HALF-TIME: Inter Milan 0-0 Manchester United

The first half comes to an end and it is still goalless in Maryland. After United's last match I expected plenty of goals, but both defences have been on top so far. Van Gaal's side have been the better of the two, but they have not been able to make their pressure count.

The closest we have come to a goal so far is Jones's header that was brilliantly saved by Handanovic. Mata saw a decent effort head wide of the post late on, but chances have been few and far between.

The signs have been good for new United manager Van Gaal. His formation seems to be getting the best out of his midfielders, with the likes of Herrera able to dominate the play. Further up the pitch Rooney has enjoyed a productive pre-season and looks to be finding some of his best form.

I can tell you that if tonight's match ends level then we will have a penalty shootout. As part of the International Champions Cup, both teams would earn a point for a draw, but the team who wins on spot kicks would earn another point. The winners of this group will play in the final next Monday in Florida.

Man Utd take the kick off and get the second half started. There has been plenty of changes at half time, so when we have confirmation of those I will get them to you.

MAN UTD SECOND HALF XI: De Gea, Keane, Evans, Blackett, Young, Cleverley, Fletcher, Kagawa, Shaw, Zaha, Nani

Inter have made just one change at the break, with new singing M'Vila coming on for Krhin.

It's been a scrappy start to the second half, with the number of changes made by United possibly having an impact. Inter will hope that they can take advantage of the eight alterations made from Van Gaal.

It has seemed likely that a set piece could decide this match, but Evans fails to get make any real contact with Young's corner and the chance again goes to waste.

Zaha has found first-team football hard to come by at Old Trafford, but he shows a glimpse of his talent with a neat turn and powerful burst past the Inter defence. It looks like he is bearing down on goal, but Vidic gets back in time to make a perfectly timed challenge against his old teammate.

Inter just haven't got going in this second half and they are still trying to pick out Icardi with long-range balls over the top. He has found it hard this evening and it may not be too long until we see another striker introduced.

CHANCE! United have produced some great moments of skill in this match and Nani comes close when he exchanges passes with Kagawa on the edge of the box, before drilling an effort wide of the far post.

SUBSTITUTION: Inter have made a number of changes, with Carrizo, Laxalt, Nagatomo and Taider all coming on for Handanovic, Dodo, Kuzmanovic and Botta.

You can clearly see the impact that these mass substitutions have had on the match and at the moment it's looking very likely that this game will be finishing level. Inter won their last game on penalties so they should be confident of their chances from the spot.

Hernandez is warming up for United and he gets a rousing reception from the crowd. The striker has been linked with a move to Inter this summer and will be looking to impress following his lack of a regular starting spot in recent seasons.

CHANCE! What a chance this is for Cleverley. The midfielder is picked out in space by Young's cross from the right, but he can only direct his half-volley over the bar from just inside the box.

SUBSTITUTION: Vidic's night comes to an end and he receives a huge round of applause from both sets of fans as Andreolli comes on to replace him.

CHANCE! United have found a lot of space in behind the Inter defence in the past few minutes and Nani is picked out by Fletcher, before seeing his low drive blocked by the keeper.

SUBSTITUTION: Hernandez is on for United and he has replaced Nani, who only came on himself at half time.

United feel that they should have a penalty when Cleverely goes down under the challenge of Andreolli, but the referee waves away his appeals. Looking at the replays it was a clumsy challenge by the defender and I have certainly seen penalties given for less.

SUBSTITUTION: Inter have made a change, with Guarin coming on for Jonathan.

The Italians have been awarded a free kick in a decent position around 25 yards out from goal, following a foul from Hernandez. Guarin and Icardi are standing over this...

SAVE! It's Guarin who strikes the free kick and his powerful effort is fantastically tipped over the bar by De Gea. The Spaniard hasn't had much to do this evening, but he had to be at his best to keep that out.

YELLOW CARD! Andreolli picks up a booking for bringing down Cleverley after the midfielder had spun away from him in the midfield.

CHANCE! This could be the final effort on goal for United, as Zaha picks up the ball out wide on the left, before driving into the box and firing a low shot just wide of the near post.

We are going to have two minutes of stoppage time.

FULL-TIME: Inter Milan 0-0 Manchester United

So, the two sides have not been able to be separated in normal time and we will now go to a penalty shootout!

GOAL! United are ahead in the shootout, with Young smashing his effort into the roof of the net.

GOAL! Inter level the scores, with Guarin firing his effort into the corner as De Gea dived the wrong way.

GOAL! Hernandez makes no mistake from the spot, with a fine effort into the corner of the net.

GOAL! M'Villa somehow squeezes his effort into the net, with De Gea unable to keep his strike out.

GOAL! It's a fine penalty from Cleverly, who slots home with ease. United are ahead 3-2 in the shootout!

GOAL! Taider slides his penalty into the bottom left hand corner and we are all square after six penalties.

GOAL! Kagawa sends the keeper wrong way, with a cool effort into the corner of the net.

MISS! Andreolli misses after smashing his strike against the bar!

GOAL! It's all over as Fletcher slots his penalty into the corner, which means that United have won 5-3 in the shootout!

There we have it, Manchester United have deservedly triumphed on penalties over Inter Milan. They were by far the better team today and look well on course for next week's International Champions Cup final!

Well, that's all we've got time for here this evening. I'm sorry that we couldn't bring you more goals, but the penalty shootout offered an exciting end to the proceedings. Make sure you join us for live coverage all of the pre-season action, with Liverpool set to take on Manchester City tomorrow. Until next time, goodbye!

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