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Match Report: Manchester United 5-2 Galatasaray

Image: 101greatgoals

Manchester United smashed Galatasaray 5-2 in their friendly in Gothenburg, Sweden this evening, despite being behind going into the second half.

None other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic kicked off the game on his United debut, to the delight of the Swedish crowd, who roared every time the No.9 touched the ball.

It did not take him long whatsoever to get his first goal as a Red Devil, as he acrobatically converted Antonio Valencia’s cross in the fourth minute. His scissor kick was driven into the ground, and bounced past the Galatasaray goalkeeper, Muslera, into the top corner.

It almost seems as if Zlatan was never going to announce his Manchester United arrival in any other way.

However, after what was a dream start for United, Galatasaray began to possess the ball more, which eventually resulted in the equaliser in the 23rd minute. A cross was swung into the box from a Sneijder free kick, around 40 yards from goal, which was converted by Sinan Gumus after some sloppy defending on United’s behalf.

It got even worse for Mourinho’s side towards the end of the first half, as Bruma picked up the ball after a neat interchange with Gumus, and finished wonderfully to David De Gea’s left-hand-side.

In other words, United had it all to do in the second half, despite leading inside five minutes.

Five changes at the half saw Rashford, Fellaini, Carrick, Lingard and Young take to the field in an attempt to salvage a victory against the Turkish side.

In the 55th minute of the game, United were back on level terms, as yet another Valencia cross found Wayne Rooney in the box, who stroked the ball home to the far side.

https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/759465419673436160

Just a few minutes later, Marcus Rashford drove fantastically into the box, and was brought down by Muslera, earning United a penalty, and a golden chance to take the lead. And take the lead they did, as Rooney stepped up and placed home his second goal of the game.

https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/759467014578511873

It even seems as if the great Ibrahimovic was impressed by Rashford’s brilliant run:

Fellaini then made the score 4-2 in the 62nd minute, with a looping header to the far post after another Valencia cross, who tallied up his third assist of the game from the right hand side.

https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/759468728639557632

Then, in the 75th minute, Mata scored United’s fourth goal of the half, and their fifth of the game. After some simply stunning play between the likes of Carrick and the Spaniard himself, the No.16 whipped in a low cross, which was prodded home by Mata six yards from goal.

https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/759469852427812864

This turned out to be their final goal of the game, as United recorded a strong pre-season victory. With a week to go until the Community Shield game against Leicester, Mourinho must be content with what he saw from his team, especially offensively in the second half.



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