United, Liverpool to duel for title
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, August 4, 2014
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Ashley Young struck twice on to help Manchester United to a 3-1 win over Real Madrid. |
Ashley Young struck twice on Saturday to help Manchester United to a 3-1 friendly win over Real Madrid in front of the biggest crowd ever to watch a football match in the United States.
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez also scored for United against Real, whose lone goal was Gareth Bale's spot kick.
Real trailed 1-2 in the second half when manager Carlo Ancelotti introduced former United star Cristiano Ronaldo off the bench.
The move did little for the European champion's quest for an equalizer, but it delighted the crowd of 109,318 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.
The attendance surpassed the prior record 101,799 who watched the 1984 Olympic final between Brazil and France at Pasadena's Rose Bowl in California.
While United manager Louis van Gaal had voiced doubts that the US tour heavy on travel offered the best preseason preparation for his players, he was proud of the club's impact in North America as well as their performance on the pitch in four matches so far. "Three hundred thousand fans have watched us already and now we're in the Miami final, it will be even more than that."
The victory sent United into tomorrow's final of the International Champions Cup, a series of friendlies involving eight European clubs all preparing for their domestic campaigns, where it will face English Premier League rival Liverpool, which had already booked its berth before its 2-0 victory over AC Milan in Charlotte on Saturday.
Joe Allen in the first half and Spanish striker Suso in the second scored for Liverpool, as Milan finished the exhibition tournament without a point.
"I thought it was an excellent test for us," Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers said. "I thought we showed real good composure and control with the ball ... and I thought defensively we were really strong and solid."
Liverpool had already been assured of going through to the final after Premier League champion Manchester City fell 4-5 on penalties to Olympiakos after a 2-2 full-time draw in Minneapolis.
In an all-Italian clash, Inter Milan defeated AS Roma 2-0 in Philadelphia.
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