Manchester United 2 Leeds United 0
Manchester United opened the pre-season schedule in confident fashion on Wednesday, by defeating historic rivals Leeds United 2-0 in Oslo.
Two of the young replacements, Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill, netted the Reds' goals after the break as they showed the attacking prowess they have honed with our Under-21s in Premier League 2.
Charlie Savage, captaining the side of substitutes from midfield, and Isak Hansen-Aarøen, who assisted Emeran's opener, were also among the Academy players trying to impress Ten Hag in the absence of many senior players who were still playing for their countries only a few weeks ago.
Highlights: United v Leeds
📽️ SHORT HIGHLIGHTS | Watch action from Mason Mount, plus the goals by Academy lads Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill…
After poignant tributes were paid to a legend of both clubs - Gordon McQueen, who passed away last month - the action began in a competitive spirit that the late, great Scot would have approved of. Indeed, the first free-kick was awarded against Leeds after just 20 seconds, setting the tone for a first 45 minutes in which the Reds, inspired by Mount, were largely on the front foot.
But this excursion to Oslo wasn't just an occasion for Mount and Academy youngsters such as Kobbie Mainoo and Omari Forson to impress, it was also an opportunity for players who enjoyed successful loan spells last season and have now returned to the fold, like Alvaro Fernandez, Amad and Hannibal.
The latter was involved in the two key goalscoring chances for both teams inside the opening 20 minutes. The Tunisia international was on the end of the first move to feature the incisive passing of Mount, who drilled the ball brilliantly out to Amad on the right flank. Hannibal connected with the resulting cross but his effort was blocked by Leeds goalkeeper Kristoffer Klaesson, playing in his native Norway.
The same Reds midfielder later prevented Leeds from potentially going in front, when he produced a timely challenge to stop Luis Sinisterra completing a one-two with Ian Poveda. The latter looked odds on to score or at least give Tom Heaton a severe test between the posts had he received his fellow Colombian's pass, six yards out.
Between those attacks, Mount went tantalisingly close to marking his unofficial debut with a goal when he led the press, seized the ball off Leeds centre-back Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen and floated a shot over Klaesson but on to the roof of the net. Amad later tried his luck with a curled attempt from the right but again it was too high for the target.
SECOND HALF
Ten Hag made 11 pre-planned personnel changes at half-time, while his newly appointed counterpart Daniel Farke kept one of his starters on the pitch in full-back Codey Drameh. The players he introduced for the second period included senior striker Patrick Bamford and the former Reds winger Daniel James.
The mass alterations understandably disrupted the flow of the game but when the contest clicked back into gear, it was the youngsters in red who made the decisive moves.
Emeran broke the deadlock in the 67th minute with an accomplished, first-time finish. An inch-perfect pass from Hansen-Aarøen teed up the Frenchman, who swept the ball with his left foot past Leeds' substitute keeper Dani van den Heuvel.
The goalscorer later turned provider when his low delivery from the right was dummied by Shola Shoretire and invited Hugill to simply tuck the ball home from close to the penalty spot, nine minutes from time.
That second goal compounded any disappointment the Leeds fans felt when Archie Gray's impressive 25-yarder hit the side netting instead of nestling behind Reds keeper Matej Kovar, who dived to his right to ensure it went wide.
Rhys Bennett almost sealed the victory with a third goal for the Reds when his header hit the post in injury time but at 2-0, it was still a job very well done for Ten Hag's team in the first of eight pre-season games to be shown live on MUTV this summer.
Watch MUTV: The home of pre-season
ArticleAll eight of United's summer friendlies, including those on Tour 2023, will be shown live on our official channel.
United: Heaton, Wan-Bissaka, Martinez, Varane (c), Fernandez, Mainoo, Hannibal, Mount, Amad, Sancho, Forson.
Leeds: Klaesson, Drameh, Cooper (c), Mullen, Hjelde, Gyabi, Greenwood, Shackleton, Poveda, Sinisterra, Rutter.
LINE-UPS - SECOND HALF
United: Kovar, Jurado, Fish, Bennett, Williams, Gore, Hansen-Aaroen, Savage (c), Emeran, Shoretire, Hugill.
Leeds: Van den Huevel, Ayling, Moore, Struijk, Drameh, Bate, Gray, James, Joseph, Gelhardt, Bamford.
Who was our Man of the Match in Oslo?
ArticleYour star man was one of the youngsters introduced by Erik ten Hag at half-time.
Great start to pre season beating Leeds, was an honour to captain my boyhood club 🙌❤️ pic.twitter.com/c551nWaN5Z
— Charlie Savage (@charliesavage84) July 12, 2023
What a feeling, first goal for @ManUtd
— Joe Hugill (@9joehugill) July 12, 2023
Great start to pre season ⚽️❤️ pic.twitter.com/qJDNIWF5xh