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| Manchester United edge out Roma in International Champions Cup | Manchester United edge out Roma in International Champions Cup |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Manchester United won their opening group game of the International Champions Cup, though it was mighty close after a 75th-minute Miralem Pjanic wonder goal sparked a late Roma revival. | Manchester United won their opening group game of the International Champions Cup, though it was mighty close after a 75th-minute Miralem Pjanic wonder goal sparked a late Roma revival. |
| Pjanic, a second-half replacement, had collected possession 70 yards from Ben Amos. Spying the goalkeeper away from his line, he coolly chipped a blushing Amos to make the score 3-1 to United. | Pjanic, a second-half replacement, had collected possession 70 yards from Ben Amos. Spying the goalkeeper away from his line, he coolly chipped a blushing Amos to make the score 3-1 to United. |
| When Michael Keane, one of nine changes at the break from Louis van Gaal, was then adjudged to have handballed by Allen Chapman, the referee, Francesco Totti, another substitute in a match littered with them, smashed home with two minutes left. | |
| United held on but the 54,117 fans inside the Sports Authority Field had witnessed a disjointed performance from Van Gaal’s side. | United held on but the 54,117 fans inside the Sports Authority Field had witnessed a disjointed performance from Van Gaal’s side. |
| United had two early scares from a Roma team that pinned them back for most of an opening half that would have been filed under “disappointing” until two strikes from Wayne Rooney and a Juan Mata finish allowed the manager’s XI to enter the break 3-0 ahead. | United had two early scares from a Roma team that pinned them back for most of an opening half that would have been filed under “disappointing” until two strikes from Wayne Rooney and a Juan Mata finish allowed the manager’s XI to enter the break 3-0 ahead. |
| United’s first dicey moment came when Tyler Blackett drifted out of position to allow a Salih Ucan ball to float into Mattia Destro, who lobbed Sam Johnstone, but the effort bounced over the bar. | United’s first dicey moment came when Tyler Blackett drifted out of position to allow a Salih Ucan ball to float into Mattia Destro, who lobbed Sam Johnstone, but the effort bounced over the bar. |
| The second scare involved Ander Herrera, who had starred in United’s 7-0 win over LA Galaxy on Wednesday in Pasadena, but was dispossessed too easily by Ucan. The midfielder did the right thing by scurrying back to tackle the forward but the scrappiness in these opening exchanges proved the underlying theme of United’s display. | The second scare involved Ander Herrera, who had starred in United’s 7-0 win over LA Galaxy on Wednesday in Pasadena, but was dispossessed too easily by Ucan. The midfielder did the right thing by scurrying back to tackle the forward but the scrappiness in these opening exchanges proved the underlying theme of United’s display. |
| Blackett and Johnstone continually made errors – the goalkeeper had a concerning issue with iffy clearances – while Tom Cleverley’s touch was close to non-existent. | Blackett and Johnstone continually made errors – the goalkeeper had a concerning issue with iffy clearances – while Tom Cleverley’s touch was close to non-existent. |
| The 24-year-old’s worst moment came when he lost the ball, causing Herrera to concede a free-kick, and Cleverley was fortunate to see Leandro Paredes hit the wall for a corner that amounted to nothing. | The 24-year-old’s worst moment came when he lost the ball, causing Herrera to concede a free-kick, and Cleverley was fortunate to see Leandro Paredes hit the wall for a corner that amounted to nothing. |
| Nominated as captain for the day, as Cleverley was one of only two who was told he would play the 90 minutes – Blackett was the other – the midfielder may have only taken the field for the second half due to his manager’s pre-match declaration. | Nominated as captain for the day, as Cleverley was one of only two who was told he would play the 90 minutes – Blackett was the other – the midfielder may have only taken the field for the second half due to his manager’s pre-match declaration. |
| Still, Van Gaal indicated he can perform a U-turn if required by taking Cleverley off, though whether this was due to his bad display or because of exhaustion or a knock was unclear. | Still, Van Gaal indicated he can perform a U-turn if required by taking Cleverley off, though whether this was due to his bad display or because of exhaustion or a knock was unclear. |
| With Mata and Rooney also prone to clumsiness, the team were surely heading for a half-time rollicking until three slick moments. | With Mata and Rooney also prone to clumsiness, the team were surely heading for a half-time rollicking until three slick moments. |
| First, Rooney received the ball in a classic No10 position, 30 yards from goal, facing away from the penalty area. The striker , a motion that allowed him toswivel and put spin on a shot that curled sweetly away from Lukasz Skorupski into his top right-hand corner. | |
| Rooney’s part in Mata’s finish was equally impressive. From just inside the United half he struck a pass to the Spaniard that dropped over his shoulder to be controlled instantly by his left foot. Mata chipped Skorupski to make it 2-0, courtesy of the right post. | Rooney’s part in Mata’s finish was equally impressive. From just inside the United half he struck a pass to the Spaniard that dropped over his shoulder to be controlled instantly by his left foot. Mata chipped Skorupski to make it 2-0, courtesy of the right post. |
| Rooney’s fourth in two halves of football on the tour was a penalty, like his second against the Galaxy had been. Danny Welbeck was felled by Urby Emanuelson and Chapman pointed to the spot. At this juncture the newly HD MUTV crashed so the United faithful watching around the world missed the moment Rooney scored. | Rooney’s fourth in two halves of football on the tour was a penalty, like his second against the Galaxy had been. Danny Welbeck was felled by Urby Emanuelson and Chapman pointed to the spot. At this juncture the newly HD MUTV crashed so the United faithful watching around the world missed the moment Rooney scored. |
| This all meant 10 unanswered goals in 135 minutes of action for Van Gaal’s team. For the second half he made the nine promised changes, while Ashley Cole was among five new players introduced by Rudi García. | This all meant 10 unanswered goals in 135 minutes of action for Van Gaal’s team. For the second half he made the nine promised changes, while Ashley Cole was among five new players introduced by Rudi García. |
| When doing the same in | |