MLS All-Stars 2 United 5

Following Sunday’s disappointing display and result against the Kansas City Wizards, the Reds were determined to make amends and it took just 24 seconds for Sir Alex’s men to bring the sell-out crowd to their feet.

Kevin Alstone tried to find Jamison Olave with a simple pass across the backline, but it was horribly underhit allowing Kiko Macheda to nip in and finish with aplomb. It was the perfect start for the Reds whose passing and movement was slick from the off. And it didn’t take long for the visitors to double their advantage.

After Wes Brown had seen his header from a Giggs corner deflected wide, Macheda rose to head home Nani’s follow-up set-piece on 12 minutes.

The All-Stars were more than a little shell-shocked after a scintillating opening from United, but Bruce Arena’s side weren’t about to be totally rolled over. And it was a former foe, Juan Pablo Angel, who looked the most likely to get them going.

The ex-Aston Villa striker forced a superb fingertip save from Van der Sar on 15 minutes after a finely struck 20-yard free-kick, before his close-range toe-poke was deflected over by the outstretched leg of Jonny Evans soon after following an inviting cross from Heath Pearce.

The All-Stars continued to turn up the heat thereafter with Sebastien Le Toux testing Van der Sar with a low drive at the near post and Chad