Leeds United 0 Manchester United 2: Multiple changes but mistakes costly in Daniel Farke opener - YEP 12/7/23
Daniel Farke's first game in charge as Leeds United boss ended in defeat as arch rivals Manchester United recorded a 2-0 victory in Wednesday's pre-season friendly in Oslo after defensive lapses from his Whites.
By Lee Sobot
Farke gave minutes to 21 different players and Leeds created
plenty of chances but so did the Red Devils who went ahead in the 67th minute
through Noam Emeram who finished an attack that began with Pascal Struijk
losing possession in his own half.
Poor defending again cost Leeds dear in the 81st minute as
Joe Hugill was given the freedom to net in the middle of the box from an Emeram
cross upon being played onside by a disjointed back line.
After a quiet opening, the Red Devils were only denied an
opening goal in the 11th minute by a fine save from Kristoffer Klaesson who
kept out a close-range effort from Hannibal following Amad's pullback.
Amad sent the follow up attempt over the bar and Manchester
United squandered another chance one minute later when Mason Mount picked the
pocket of Jeremiah Mullen but sent his attempted chip over.
But Leeds went close in the 19th minute as a fine counter
attack started by Georginio Rutter after a Jamie Shackleton challenge ended
with Hannibal producing a fine sliding tackle to thwart Ian Poveda who was set
for a tap-in from Luis Sinisterra's through ball.
A poor pass from Klaesson then let in the Red Devils for a
fine chance which they were unable to convert as Omari Forson's shot was
blocked by Jeremiah Mullen. Leeds then went close a few moments later as
Poveda's cross from the left was cleared with Sam Greenwood lurking.
At the other end, another fine Red Devils opportunity went
begging as Alvaro Fernandez sent a free header wide from a corner and the next
attempt proved a wild one from Mount who spooned his shot from the edge of the
area well over the bar.
But Leeds again went close on the half hour mark as a Rutter
delivery flew through the area inches in front of a stretching Greenwood after
Sinisterra's earlier attempt had been blocked.
As the game headed for half time, the Red Devils quickly
worked the ball wide right to the dangerous Amad who rapidly cut inside but
then curled his shot over the bar. Instead, the opening period ended goalless
after chances for both sides, the Red Devils having the lion's share of them.
Whites boss Farke made ten changes during the half time
break and his side squandered a good chance to go ahead in the 57th minute when
a Lewis Bate corner picked out Pascal Struijk who could only head wide.
A good cross from Dan James was then gathered by keeper
Matej Kovar before Leeds survived a scare in the 64th minute after brave
keeping from Dani Van den Heuvel who dived at the feet of Joe Hugill to thwart
the attacker but a scramble ensued from which Erik ten Hag's side were unable
to convert.
But the Red Devils went ahead just two minutes later after
Struijk's heavy touch was cut out by and the ball was worked to Noam Emeran who
raced clear down the right channel before netting through Van den Heuvel's
legs.
The goal shifted momentum but Leeds looked to respond and
Mateo Joseph's dart to the byline was ended by a clearance for a corner which
came to nothing.
From 20 yards out, an Archie Gray rocket flew into the side
netting and Patrick Bamford was then flagged offside after rounding keeper
Kovar upon being played in by Kris Moore.
James and Gelhardt then sent efforts over the bar from the
edge of the area but the Red Devils doubled their tally in the 81st minute
through Hugill who was left all alone to convert from an Emeran cross upon
being played onside by a disjointed back line.
Leeds United v Manchester United: Klaesson, Drameh, Cooper,
Mullen, Hjelde, Gyabi, Shackleton, Greenwood, Poveda, Sinisterra, Rutter. Subs:
Van Den Heuvel, Christy, Ayling, Struijk, Monteiro, Moore, Gray, James, Bate,
Bamford, Perkins, Gelhardt, Joseph.
