Manchester United defeated Real Madrid on penalties during the clubs’ International Champions Cup match on Sunday. The match took place in Santa Clara, California as the two football giants prepare for their domestic and European campaigns. The two sides drew over 65,000 fans to the match. The number seems a bit of a disappointment after more than 109,000 witnessed a summer friendly between the two three years ago.
The game was evenly matched throughout and Manchester United took the early lead through a Jesse Lindgard goal. Madrid later levelled through Casemiro, who struck from the penalty spot. Manchester United’s newest defensive recruit, Victor Lindelhof fouled Madrid’s Theo Hernandez in the penalty area, giving the Spanish champions the opportunity to level from the spot.After 90 minutes, the two sides battled it out in a ridiculous penalty shootout with the English side coming out on top.
Despite picking up the preseason win in the ICC tournament, Manchester United did receive a scare as midfielder Ander Herrera limped off after six minutes with a hip injury.
Following the match, fans, pundits and the clubs themselves took to Twitter to dissect the match.
Firstly, Manchester United were happy with their newest celeb fan…
https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/889244227296673793
Fans weren’t happy about either team’s performance in the lame penalty shootout…
Manchester United and Real Madrid just produced one of the worst penalty shootouts you'll ever see in your life. pic.twitter.com/PsnHxFmWSo
— Hi! Watch This (@HiWatchThis) July 23, 2017
Manchester United thrash Real Madrid on penalties.
That confirms it: Manchester United are the best team in the world.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) July 23, 2017
Manchester United have just won the worst penalty shootout of all time.
— ㅤ (@TheUtdReview) July 23, 2017
Some fans were excited over the play of Anthony Martial, who set up Lindgard’s goal…
What a goal by @ManUtd! Stunning dribbling by #Martial who dribbled 3 #madrid players and passed the ball to #lingard to score. #mufc 1-0 pic.twitter.com/zSL6iKnyYF
— Football Now (@FootballNow17) July 24, 2017
RT if you think @AnthonyMartial should be starting week in week out for Manchester United.. pic.twitter.com/Py2gJUReNY
— Josh (@Martialized) July 23, 2017
Amazing run from Anthony Martial to assist Jesse Lingard as Manchester United go a goal up against Real Madrid. pic.twitter.com/9iDHIIr4tJ
— Big Nothing (@BigNothingPod) July 23, 2017
Other fans couldn’t get past Ronald McDonald’s appearance at the high profile football friendly…
https://twitter.com/SimonPeach/status/889229017689096192
Following the match, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho commented on the fixture, labelling it a “training session”.
“It was a good training session. A very good first half against a top Real side,” Mourinho said. “In the second half we lost motivation, intensity and appetite to play against their youngsters. My players in the second half were disappointed not to play against their best players.
“We have one injury to Ander Herrera, I don’t know how he is but it has to be painful to come off so soon.
“Three out of 10 penalties – that’s pre-season. I didn’t choose my best penalty takers.”
Manchester United will continue their United States preseason tour with a match against Barcelona on July 26 just outside Washington D.C. Meanwhile, Real Madrid will head to Southern California to take on Manchester City in Los Angeles on the same day.