Manchester United continued their preparations for the 2018-19 season with a goalless draw against San Jose Earthquakes at the Levi's Stadium in California.
Both teams had chances during the 90 minutes, but neither could make the breakthrough as the spoils were shared.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's pre-season coverage continues from the Levi's Stadium in beautiful California as Manchester United take on San Jose Earthquakes. United are building towards the start of the 2018-19 campaign, but San Jose are actually 19 matches into their domestic season. Stay tuned with us for live minute-by-minute updates of the pre-season action.
United have been in the United States since the early hours of Monday morning, and started their preparations for the 2018-19 season on Thursday - drawing 1-1 with Club America. Henry Martin sent the Mexican side ahead before Juan Mata levelled the scores in the 78th minute of action.
United are, of course, without all of their World Cup stars, meaning that a number of youngsters are on the tour. Mason Greenwood and Tahith Chong were among those to be given the chance to impress last time out, and it will be very interesting to see what type of XI Jose Mourinho has selected here.
Right, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from the Levi's Stadium. Does Alexis Sanchez play following his late arrival in the United States? Let's run through the two teams...
#MUFC kit selection:
Home ❌
Away ❌
Third ✅#MUTOUR pic.twitter.com/2c4v4Gcv8E — Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 22, 2018
TEAMS!
SAN JOSE: To follow.
UNITED: J.Pereira; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Shaw; Herrera, Garner, A.Pereira; Chong, Martial, Sanchez
The headline team news for United sees Alexis Sanchez in the XI. The Chilean had to wait for a visa before being allowed to link up with his teammates in the United States, but that occurred on Thursday, and he starts here. There is a first-team debut for 17-year-old midfielder James Garner, meanwhile, and Tahith Chong is rewarded for an impressive cameo against Club America with a spot in the XI.
A strong defence sees Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw all start, while Joel Pereira features between the sticks. Andreas Pereira is also given a start alongside Ander Herrera and Garner in midfield. A front three of Chong, Martial and Sanchez is very interesting indeed.
Not bad, @LevisStadium. Not bad. 👌#WeAreSanJose | #MUFC pic.twitter.com/F5gwWV607n — San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) July 22, 2018
We are still waiting for the confirmed San Jose team news so let's first talk about United. As mentioned, Mourinho's side started their pre-season tour of the United States with a 1-1 draw against Club America. It was not the most lively of 90 minutes, but Chong came off the bench to impress for the Red Devils, and the 18-year-old has been rewarded with a spot in the XI here.
In terms of what is ahead, the Red Devils will face San Jose before taking on AC Milan in their first International Champions Cup clash on Wednesday night. United then face Liverpool and Real Madrid in the same competition before returning to Europe to take on Bayern Munich on August 5.
United will then open their 2018-19 Premier League season at home to Leicester City on August 10, before taking on Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur before the end of the month. Mourinho's preparations have been seriously hit by the World Cup, however, and the Portuguese previously claimed that he will be without his World Cup stars for the Leicester match.
Mourinho, however, has just told MUTV: "Everything is good and Matic is in the hotel in LA waiting for us, a couple of days and David De Gea and Fred are arriving. Step by step we are making the squad ready for the opening day of the Premier League season." Great news!
Gettin' warm for @ManUtd! 💪#WeAreSanJose | #MUFC pic.twitter.com/pFa6YBfMy6 — San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) July 22, 2018
TEAMS!
SAN JOSE: Marcinkowski; Qwiberg, Cummings, Kashia, Lima; Hyka, Felipe, Jungwirth, Wehan; Amarikwa, Hoesen
UNITED: J.Pereira; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Shaw; Herrera, Garner, A.Pereira; Chong, Martial, Sanchez
San Jose have finally confirmed their team news! It looks to be a 4-4-2 formation for the MLS outfit, with Quincy Amarikwa joined by Danny Hoesen – the club's top scorer this season - in the final third of the field. JT Marcinkowski will start between the sticks for the home team tonight.
San Jose are actually 19 matches into their domestic season. A total of just 12 points has left them bottom of the MLS Western Conference, and they have lost their last two in the league. In fact, San Jose are without a league victory since beating Minnesota United on May 12, which is not great form.
Mikael Stahre's side suffered a 2-0 defeat at Montreal Impact last weekend, and will return to MLS action against Seattle Sounders on Thursday night. While tonight is a huge occasion for San Jose, it is important that this match does not have a negative effect on their league campaign.
🎥💋 Fred the Red is loving it in Santa Clara! #MUFC #MUTOUR pic.twitter.com/HMu61uhdpt
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 22, 2018
Tonight is actually the second meeting between United and San Jose. Indeed, the two teams previously locked horns in the summer of 2015, and it was United that triumphed courtesy of a 3-1 success. Juan Mata, Memphis Depay and Andreas Pereira were all on the scoresheet for the Red Devils. Right, the time for talking is almost over! The two teams are on the field in California!
KICKOFF: San Jose will kick things off in California...
... it must be said that the pitch is in a brilliant condition. It really is a baking afternoon in California, and there will be some serious calories lost this afternoon! As expected, United have the ball early on.
Andreas Pereira just caught the eye with a wonderful cross-field pass, but Valencia could not collect. San Jose have not really been involved in the first four minutes of this match, with United very much dominating the football. There are a lot, and I mean a lot, of empty seats here.
OFF THE BAR! Huge chance for United to take the lead as Bailly meets a brilliant free kick from Sanchez, but the centre-back's effort hits the crossbar! Incredible miss from the Ivory Coast international!
United are playing some excellent stuff at the moment, and Sanchez, Martial and Chong have just combined in the final third of the field. San Jose manage to clear, however, and actually go down the other end before forcing their first corner of the match. Finally some respite for their defence.
Bad news for United here as Valencia prepares to leave the field. Looks like an injury!
UNITED SUB! Darmian replaces the injured Valencia for United.
Valencia gives a thumbs up to the fans as he leaves the field, which suggests that the defender has not suffered a serious problem. San Jose have just started to see more of the ball here.
Chong has been lively for United in the opening 11 minutes, while Garner has also seen plenty of the ball in the middle of the park. Still goalless, but it has been a lively start to this match.
Martial continues to link with Sanchez in the final third of the field, while Chong is joining in. United are having loads of the ball at the moment, but they have not created anything since Bailly's chance.
Mourinho said before the match that Sanchez would play between 45 and 65 minutes tonight, and the Chilean will be keen to get his name on the scoresheet. It is still United in terms of possession, and San Jose do not exactly look secure as a defensive unit. Fifteen minutes on the clock here.
YELLOW CARD! Jungwirth (San Jose) is booked for pulling Sanchez to the deck.
Decent football from the home team as Kashia finds space in a wide position before delivering into the United box, but there are no takers. Sanchez then wins a free kick for United down the left.
Smart work from Lima in a wide position as the number 24 races away from Shaw before delivering, and he wins a free kick after being caught late by the United left-back. Free kick to the home side...
... Hyka delivers into the United box, but the English giants clear their lines.
Half-chance for United as Martial races into the San Jose box, but the Frenchman gets closed out at the final moment. Martial certainly has the pace to cause this back four problems here.
SHOT! Shaw strikes into the ground and over the crossbar from inside the San Jose box.
Pass, pass, pass from United as San Jose continue to sink deeper and deeper. That said, the visitors have not really created a chance since Bailly hit the crossbar in the early stages here.
United need to get Andreas Pereira on the ball in the middle of the park, with the midfielder looking very dangerous when he has time and space. The English giants have a free kick in a fairly advanced position as Sanchez is bundled to the deck by the booked Jungwirth once again...
CLOSE! ... Sanchez's free kick is not too far away at all!
Water break time! I will grab a sip myself.
We are back underway following the stoppage; it really is a hot afternoon in California. Mourinho will want to see more from his team in the final 10 or so minutes of the first period here.
SAVE! Joel Pereira has to keep out a long-range strike from Qviberg!
Still goalless as we approach the latter stages of the first here. United have had lots of the ball, but have been unable to make the breakthrough, and San Jose's goalkeeper has been comfortable. Bailly should have sent Mourinho's side ahead early on, but he hit the crossbar from close range.
Half-chance for United as Garner meets a corner from the right, but his header was always dropping wide of the post. Bailly then attacks a second corner, but the danger is cleared.
San Jose have a free kick in an advanced area as Bailly brings Amarikwa to the deck...
... comfortable for Pereira as he collects a weak attempt from Hoesen.
Possession football from San Jose in the last few minutes, and they force the ball forward into Hoesen, but the striker loses out to Bailly. Those two are having a good old battle in this game.
I suspect that both managers will make wholesale changes at the break, which is always great news when it comes to keeping up with what is happening! This heat is energy-zapping for the players.
We are into the first of two additional minutes at the end of the first period here.
HALF TIME: San Jose Earthquakes 0-0 Manchester United
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. United - as expected - have had most of the ball, but clear chances have been few and far between. Bailly should have sent United ahead in the early exchanges, but his close-range effort hit the crossbar. Sanchez and Shaw have also had shots for the English side from decent areas.
BENCH WATCH! Darmian has already replaced Valencia, and Mourinho will make wholesale changes in the second period, with the likes of Fosu-Mensah, Gomes, Mata, Greenwood and McTominay all hoping to feature. San Jose, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Eriksson, Marie and Ockford.
In terms of what is ahead, United will take on AC Milan in their first International Champions Cup clash on Wednesday night. Mourinho's team then face Liverpool and Real Madrid in the same competition before returning to Europe to take on Bayern Munich on August 5. The Red Devils then start their 2018-19 Premier League campaign one week later against Leicester City. It is all go!
KICKOFF: United get things back underway in California...
... UNITED SUB! Lee Grant has replaced Joel Pereira for United.
SHOT! San Jose have changed their entire team at the break, and the number eight Wondolowski has just tested Grant with a strike from inside the United box. Bare with me while I confirm the changes.
UNITED SUBS! Mata, McTominay, Fosu-Mensah and Tuanzebe are also on for United in place of Smalling, Bailly, Garner and Chong. It is fun when all happens with no warning!
Shaw misses the post with a strike from a wide position. Decent attempt.
Andreas Pereira for United this time, and he strikes wide from long range.
YELLOW CARD! Godoy (San Jose) is booked for a tug on Sanchez.
United have been the more attacking team in the early stages of the second period, with Shaw advanced down the left. Sanchez, meanwhile, remains bright and inventive for the Red Devils here.
OFF THE LINE! Wonderful block from Tuanzebe to keep out a close-range effort from Qazaishvili!
Little over 30 minutes of football remaining here, and the score is still goalless. Both teams have had their moments in the second period, and you do get the feeling that a goal is coming here.
It will be interesting to see whether we get another look at 16-year-old Greenwood for United. The teenager appeared in the first match against Club America, and could well replace Sanchez or Martial.
Not too much of an atmosphere inside the stadium at the moment it must be said.
McTominay finds space in a wide area before delivering a low cross towards Mata, but the danger is cleared once again. San Jose can break, but Tuanzebe is across to make a smart clearance.
UNITED SUB! Greenwood replaces Sanchez for the away team.
Still goalless with 67 minutes on the clock, and not too much is happening at the moment. There is no question that the heat out there is making it difficult for United to really dominate this game.
Angel Gomes is still on the bench for United, but the Englishman must be in line to replace Martial, who is unlikely to complete 90 minutes here. It is United with the ball as we approach 70 minutes.
SAVE! Wonderful save from Grant to keep out a brilliant strike from Thompson!
United have a free kick in a dangerous area as Godoy brings Herrera to the ground...
... Mata's free kick is easily headed clear. Needs to be better than that!
Darmian breaks down the right before delivering into the San Jose box, but the danger is cleared once again. The resulting corner then sees the referee whistle for another free kick.
UNITED SUB! Mitchell replaces Shaw for United.
We have another water break here as both sets of players have a little rest.
SAN JOSE SUBS! Ockford and Calvillo are both on the field for San Jose. Not entirely sure who has exited as they just walked on during the water break. Always helpful!
CHANCE! McTominay has a free header from a Greenwood cross, but the midfielder misses the target!
Super defending from Fosu-Mensah down the right as he comes across to tackle Salinas. Darmian has been a little bit leggy in the second period, but Fosu-Mensah was on the cover there.
OFF THE BAR! Super chance for San Jose as Quintara meets a corner, but his header hits the crossbar!
UNITED SUB! Angel Gomes replaces Andreas Pereira for United.
Little over five minutes of the second period remaining, and we are still locked at 0-0 here.
SAN JOSE SUB! Eriksson is replaced by Fuentes.
Darmian delivers a dangerous cross into the San Jose box, but the danger is cleared.
Comfortable save from Grant to keep out an effort from Wondolowski.
SAN JOSE SUB! Akanyirige replaces Thompson for San Jose.
We are into the first of two additional minutes at the end of the match.
FULL TIME: SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 0-0 MANCHESTER UNITED
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with the two teams played out a goalless draw. Not the best match it must be said, but more minutes in the tank for United. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. See you soon!
