adminMICHIGAN.— Manchester United defeated European champions Real Madrid 3-1 in front of a record US crowd of 109 318 in Michigan on Saturday.
Two goals from Ashley Young and one from Javier Hernandez secured new United manager Louis van Gaal his fourth win of the US summer tour.
Gareth Bale’s penalty was all Real could muster in reply, even after the second-half introduction of former United star Cristiano Ronaldo.
United now face Liverpool in today’s International Champions Cup final.
Van Gaal has presided over wins against the Los Angles Galaxy, Roma and Inter Milan in the United States.
United will now meet their great English rivals, who qualified for the final after Manchester City lost 5-4 on penalties to Olympiakos following a 2-2 draw in Minneapolis, in Miami.
Real’s starting line-up at the Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor was missing not only Ronaldo but also new signings Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez.
But the likes of Bale, Luka Modric and Xabi Alonso were on show in front of the largest ever attendance for a football match in the United States.
Young opened the scoring after 21 minutes but Carlo Ancelotti’s Real were level six minutes later when Michael Keane climbed on Bale in the area and the Wales international tucked away the resulting spot-kick.
United regained the lead on 37 minutes when Young’s cross drifted over the head of Iker Casillas.
Ronaldo’s introduction against his former team with 17 minutes remaining grabbed the attention of the huge crowd, but United sealed victory moments later as Hernandez made it three.
The previous record attendance for a football match in the United States was 101 799 for the 1984 Olympic final, when France beat Brazil 2-0 at the Rose Bowl in California.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is not concerned by his side’s three friendly defeats in the United States and is confident
his players will be on top form for the European Super Cup against Sevilla on August 12.
Real were beaten 3-1 by English Premier League side Manchester United in an International Champions Cup match in Michigan on Saturday following reverses to Italian Serie A clubs AS Roma and Inter Milan.
“We are not happy with the defeat,” Ancelotti told a news conference at the University of Michigan stadium in Ann Arbor.
“But I am sure we are going to play with a different spirit in the European Super Cup,” added the Italian, who led Real to the 2014 Champions League title in his debut season.
“These are preparation matches. We didn’t do things well but everything will change next week.”
There was at least some good news for Real as Portugal forward and World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo, who is recovering from a knee injury, came on with around 20 minutes left to surprise the crowd of 109 318, a record attendance for a soccer match in the United States.
Ancelotti, who had said before the game Ronaldo would be unable to participate, predicted that once Real’s top scorer was back to full fitness and new signings James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos had joined up with the squad the team would be ready for the new season.
“We can’t be ready at this point because some players only started (training) a week ago and they are not in optimal condition,” Ancelotti said.
“It’s normal to have a day like today as the team is not used to playing without Cristiano or the other players.
“With the players who are returning the quality of the squad will improve.”
Ronaldo will have recovered from his left knee problem in time to feature in the Super Cup against Europa League winners Sevilla,
which takes place in Cardiff, Ancelotti added.
And Liverpool beat AC Milan 2-0 in the United States on Saturday to continue their good pre-season form.
Joe Allen scored after 17 minutes as he tucked home a rebound and Suso sealed the win late on in the International Champions Cup on Saturday in Charlotte.
Brendan Rodgers’s side will now face Manchester United in the tournament final in Miami tonight.
Striker Daniel Sturridge missed the game as he returned to the UK for treatment on a minor hamstring injury.
Rodgers said he expected Sturridge to be fit to face Borussia Dortmund in a friendly on August 10.
Liverpool, who were second in the Premier League last season, begin their 2014-15
campaign at home to Southampton a week later. — BBC Sport
Online Reporter