adminOsaka — A stoppage time goal from new-face Wilfried Zaha saved Manchester United from the brink of a humiliating third defeat in their pre-season Asian tour yesterday, drawing 2-2 with Cerezo Osaka at Shinji Kagawa’s former J-League home.Kagawa, who moved to Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund a year ago, also delighted a sell-out crowd of 44 856 at the Nagai Stadium by scoring United’s first goal minutes after fluffing a penalty by kicking straight into the hands of Osaka custodian Kim Jin-Hyeon.
The Red Devils now have two wins and two defeats in Asia after losing to the Thai league all stars 1-0 two weeks ago in Bangkok, overwhelming the A-League All Stars 5-1 in Sydney and again bowing 3-2 to the J-League’s Yokohama Marinos last Tuesday.
Zaha’s late goal was the result of the English champions pulling out all the stops in sweltering evening weather in the final minutes as Adnan Januzaj dribbled toward the area and passed to Anderson on the left side.
The Brazilian midfielder crossed to the far side with Zaha beating Kim for the equaliser one minute into additional time, scoring his first ever goal for United.
Ivory Coast-born Zaha, and Under-21 England midfielder, joined United from Crystal Palace in January.
Cerezo striker Kenyu Sugimoto opened the scoring on 34 minutes as he beat two defenders to slam a left-footer past Lindegard after intercepting a pass by United’s Chris Smalling.
Kagawa (24) pulled one back for United slotting the ball through Kim’s legs after trapping a deep left cross from Ryan Giggs.
Minutes after Kagawa was substituted amid roars from his former home supporters, Cerezo surprised the English champions with their second goal through 18-year-old striker Takumi Minamino on 63 minutes.
Minamino’s shot from the left outside the area sailed into the top far side corner.
But Zaha managed to redeem the visitors with the last-gasp equaliser.
“We made a fatal mistake in the injury time as we lost concentration,” Cerezo’s Brazilian manager Levir Culpi said. —
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo