After 2 clashes with European giants, it was an opponent closer to home for Manchester United as they took on rivals Leeds at Croke Park for a historic night of football in Dublin. While the clash itself showed all the signs of pre-season calm, for the huge crowd in attendance it was a chance to see more of United’s returning stars from World Cup action and a game that ended 1-1 but with a penalty shootout win for Carrick’s side to continue this unbeaten run they’ve found in recent weeks of pre-season.

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Teams

Manchester United: Lammens (Mee 61′), Amass (Shaw 61′), Heaven (Armer 46′), Yoro, Dalot (Mazraoui 60′), Santos (Collyer 46′), Fletcher (Fletcher 61′), Dorgu (Thompson 46′), Zirkzee (Tielemans 61′), Amad (Cunha 61′), Mbeumo (Fernandes 60′)

Subs: Heath, Honor, Gabriel, Lacey

Leeds United: Trafford (Cairns 46′), Muharemovic (Justin 46′), Bijol (Rodon 46′), Bornauw, Chadwick (Cresswell 46′), Longstaff (Stach 46′), Tanaka (Ampadu 46′), Bogle (Calvert-Lewin 46′), James (Wilson 46′), Aaronson (Okafor 46′), Nmecha (Gnonto 46′)

Subs: Mahady, Lienou, Mills, Piroe

Manchester United 1-1 Leeds United

Manchester United were held to a lively 1-1 draw by Leeds United at a packed Croke Park on Wednesday night, although they eventually edged the pre-season contest 5-4 on penalties. In a historic Dublin setting, United made the brighter start and took the lead after 16 minutes when Joshua Zirkzee finished a fine attacking move, with Bryan Mbeumo providing the spark on the right before the Dutch forward applied the finishing touch. The goal capped another encouraging outing for Zirkzee, who has looked increasingly sharp during United’s preparations for the new campaign.

Leeds responded well and levelled midway through the first half, Brenden Aaronson pouncing after United were caught out while attempting to play out from the back. The equaliser changed the rhythm of the contest, with Leeds growing in confidence and United having to work harder to regain control. The second half became increasingly fragmented as both managers used the opportunity to rotate their squads, while a succession of substitutions disrupted the flow. United introduced experienced figures including Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans as they searched for a winner, but neither side could find the breakthrough.

The draw meant penalties would decide the BoyleSports Cup, and United held their nerve to prevail 5-4 in the shootout, with Noussair Mazraoui converting the decisive kick after a Leeds miss. The result mattered little in the wider context of pre-season, but the evening provided plenty for Michael Carrick to consider ahead of the competitive campaign, from Zirkzee’s encouraging form and Mbeumo’s attacking influence to the need for greater composure when building from the back. For Leeds, Aaronson’s goal and their second-half performance offered positives too, while the atmosphere inside Croke Park, with more than 82,000 spectators present, gave the friendly the feel of something considerably bigger than a routine summer fixture.