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Pre-season Friendlies
Jul 29, 2013 at 1pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

2-5

Ka Wai (53'), Alkande (63')
FT(HT: 0-3)
Welbeck (16'), Smalling (22'), Fabio (26'), Januzaj (49'), Lingard (80')

Live Commentary: Kitchee 2-5 Manchester United - as it happened

Find out how Manchester United were able to win 5-2 against Kitchee with Sports Mole's text updates of the encounter.
2

Manchester United ended their pre-season tour of the Far East with a 5-2 victory over Kitchee in Hong Kong this afternoon.

Goals from Danny Welbeck, Chris Smalling and Fabio da Silva put David Moyes's team in command before the break, while substitute Adnan Januzaj made it 4-0 shortly after the restart.

Lam Ka Wai and Alex Tayo Akande then went on to reduce the arrears, but it was United who rounded off the scoring through Jesse Lingard.

You can find out the match unfolded with our minute by minute updates below.


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Good afternoon all. So, after almost three weeks, Manchester United's tour of the Far East and Australia is almost over. In terms of results, it hasn't been a memorable trip, but manager David Moyes will have got to know his new squad very well. They should also be in decent shape, having worked hard on their fitness. The Reds end the tour today in Hong Kong against Kitchee.

Right, before we get into a bit of pre-match chat, the team news from Hong Kong has just filtered through. Let's take a look at who will be lining up for United this afternoon.

MANCHESTER UNITED XI: Amos; Evra, Keane, Smalling, Fabio; Zaha, Carrick, Anderson, Cleverley, Young; Welbeck

So, it's a largely inexperienced United side that will start this one. Ben Amos is included in goal, while Michael Keane has been handed his first start of the tour at centre-back. Wilfried Zaha, who has impressed so far, keeps his place on the wing, while Danny Welbeck will feature as a lone striker.

It means that Moyes will have a pretty strong bench at his disposal, with the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Rafael da Silva, Ryan Giggs and Robin van Persie all included. It's likely that the Scottish boss will look to give most of those a run out in the second half, with the exception of perhaps Ferdinand, who has to manage his back problems.

Anyway, that's enough United talk for a few minutes. Let's find out a little bit more about Kitchee, shall we? Here is how they are going to start the match...

Okay, there seems to be a bit of confusion as to who is in the Kitchee side this afternoon. However, we are expecting that former Fulham defender Zesh Rehman will be included in the team. He linked up with the Hong Kong First Division side last year following a spell in Thailand.

The inexperienced United rearguard will also have to be wary of Barcelona-born striker Jordi Tarres, who has shown a clinical streak since he joined Kitchee. From his 65 outings to date, the 32-year-old has found the net on 49 occasions. Will he make it 50 today?

Of course, perhaps United's toughest opponent tonight will be the playing surface. It is the same pitch that Manchester City and Sunderland turned out on at the weekend and by the end of that contest, it looked more like a mud bath. It's bound to make passing the ball extremely difficult, which should play into the home side's hands a little bit.

Moyes himself has conceded that the pitch has caused him concern over recent days: "I do have concerns about the surface," he told reporters. "It is mainly due to the weather. That is an act of God. We can't do anything about that. But we will travel to Hong Kong and hope the conditions improve and the pitch is in a better state than it has been in recently."

We are now waiting for the players to emerge from the tunnel. The fact that they are not out yet suggests that we may be a little late starting this match.

Finally the players emerge with the officials. The noise inside the stadium rises. Everywhere United have been this summer, the grounds have been packed out. It looks as though it is a similar story this afternoon.

The players are now being introduced, so while we wait for that, here is what United legend Bryan Robson has had to say about Zaha, who has arguably been the Premier League champions' best player on this tour: "The player that has impressed me most is Zaha. Hopefully they can step up the pace and score a few more goals this evening."

GAME ON! Here we go then. Kitchee, kicking from right to left, get this friendly encounter off and running.

Bright stuff from Kitchee as they force Keane and Ashley Young into conceding early corners. The United rearguard deal with both with relative ease, but it is a sign that the home side are keen to take the game to their English counterparts.

Zaha impresses yet again as he is freed by Anderson down the right. The young winger shows enough awareness to get his head up and return the ball to the Brazilian midfielder, who shoots at the first time of asking. His effort is goalbound until a Kitchee defender throws himself in the way of the ball to thwart the danger.

While Zaha has shone on one wing, the same cannot be said for Young on the other. He is picked out by Tom Cleverley on the left and drives into the area. The England international seems to be caught in several minds from that point on though and ends up running the ball out of play. United had four players in the area as well there so it is a wasted chance.

It really is no exaggeration to say that Zaha looks to be United's most dangerous threat at the moment. On this occasion he flicks the ball over his shoulder for Fabio da Silva to run on to. The Brazilian full-back then cuts into the area, but the ball bobbles up on the pitch and his shot is easily blocked.

We have seen very little of Welbeck so far and then all of a sudden the ball drops to him on the edge of the area. His first touch is poor, but the ball breaks for Anderson, who is just beaten to possession by the Kitchee rearguard.

No doubt Moyes has taken note of the way that Zaha has linked with Fabio so far today. It's likely to be Fabio's twin Rafael that gets the nod when the Premier League starts, but they are very similar players. The fact that the Brazilian duo are willing to bomb down the line from full-back allows Zaha to float inside when he sees fit and he is doing that well today.

CHANCE! The first real effort on goal for United falls to Anderson, who is picked out by Evra 20 yards from goal. The midfielder steadies himself before curling the ball just wide of the post.

GOAL! Kitchee 0-1 Man United (Welbeck)

It looked easy, but that is a good finish from Welbeck. Young has the first attempt, which cannons off the post via a deflection off Fernando Recio. The goal is wide open, but the ball arrives at Welbeck at some pace. He hits it first time though and drills the ball into the net. He could easily have missed that so deserves plenty of credit.

CHANCE! What an unbelievable miss from Zaha. He's does everything right apart from the shot. His chest control inside the area is brilliant, as is the trick to get away from the Kitchee defenders. His right-footed shot from eight yards out is wild though and the ball flies over the bar. That should be 2-0 to United.

It's all United at the moment and they would have doubled their advantage just now but for some brave defending by Dani Cancela. Evra clips the ball to the back post and it appears that Young has a simple tap-in. Cancela throws himself in the way though to block.

GOAL! Kitchee 0-2 Man United (Smalling)

It looks a case of how many at the moment. Cancela's great defensive work results in a corner, which is taken by Cleverley. It is initially cleared, but only as far as the United midfielder. His cross on this occasion is much better and is met by Chris Smalling, who plants a header into the corner of the net. It may only be early, but it is a long way back for Kitchee.

GOAL! Kitchee 0-3 Man United (Fabio)

Great link up play from Zaha and Fabio once again and this time it results in a goal. Zaha appears to have little options on in the corner, but looking in the opposite direction, he flicks a pass between two defenders for Fabio. The full-back obliges with a powerful run and a smart first time shot which nestles in the bottom corner of the net. That's a really good goal, made by two of the youngest players on the pitch.

CHANCES! Everything United are doing at the moment is going through Zaha. He cuts inside with a neat trick and then plays a pass across the area for Young. He in turn sends a reserve pass through for Welbeck, who shoots from a tight angle. The effort is blocked and from the resultant corner Smalling heads just over.

Here is that Fabio goal:


You have to feel a little sorry for young Amos in the United net. He's been given a chance to impress his new manager, but he still hasn't had a shot to save. To be honest, he could have a deckchair out at the moment and we wouldn't know! The whole game is being played in the Kitchee half.

Zaha wins United a free kick on the edge of the area as he draws a foul from Christian Annan. Young whips the ball into the area, but Michael Carrick cannot make a clean connection and it trickles out for a goal kick. Yet another chance for United.

We now have brief stoppage in play as Kitchee's Alex Tayo Akande receives treatment. It looks as though the midfielder has had the stuffing knocked out of him in a challenge with Evra. The United players take the opportunity to get some fluids on board.

Disappointing from Welbeck as he bursts into the Kitchee half with great pace. He has options left and right, but his pass inside to Cleverley is lazy and the ball is cut out by Rehman. Meanwhile, one minute of stoppage time has been signaled by the fourth official.

HALF TIME: Kitchee 0-3 Man United

Well, Moyes should be very happy with what he saw during those 45 minutes. Granted the opposition is nowhere near of the standard that United will face on a weekly basis in the Premier League, but his players look much sharper than in previous pre-season encounters. He may now look to get the likes of Van Persie involved, just so the Dutchman can fill his boots in terms of goals.

So, who impressed during that half? Well, Zaha, obviously. He seems to be growing with every match that passes. Without getting too carried away, his performances are similar to the ones that Cristiano Ronaldo put in during his early years with United. He's unpredictable and is happy to use either his left or right foot. What's more, he has done enough on this tour to not be sent out on loan for the upcoming season. Fabio has also been very good, as has Anderson, who has coasted in the centre of midfield.

With his side in total command, Moyes may now also take the opportunity to throw the likes of Adnan Januzaj and Jesse Lingard into the action. The young duo have done well so far when they have been given the chance.

While we wait for the players to return, here is Welbeck's opening goal:


Right, as the players filter back on to the pitch, it appears that United have made three changes. Alexander Buttner, Januzaj and Lingard have replaced Evra, Young and Welbeck respectively.

And we are back underway in Hong Kong...

It's been a bright start from Januzaj, who is playing on the right wing. He's caused numerous problems to the Kitchee rearguard and has already forced two corners.

GOAL! Kitchee 0-4 Man United (Januzaj)

And just as I say that, the young Belgian midfielder scores. His fellow substitute Buttner races on to a lofted pass from Carrick to cross from the left. Januzaj ghosts into the area and then guides a cushioned header into the far corner of the net. A very well worked goal from the tourists.

GOAL! Kitchee 1-4 Man United (Lam)

That is the goal of the match from Lam Ka Wai. He cuts inside from the left and having beaten Carrick with some smart footwork, he unleashes a curling effort from 25 yards out which flies beyond a diving Amos. The first thing that the United goalkeeper has had to do this afternoon is pick the ball out of his net!

CHANCE! Buttner is playing more like a winger for United than a full-back at the moment. On this occasion Januzaj attempts to return the earlier favour with a neat through pass, but the Dutchman is flagged offside. His shot was not the greatest anyway and flew wide of the target. Then, moments later, Januzaj forces a smart low save from Zhenpeng.

While the first half belonged to Zaha, so far the second has been all about Januzaj. He's playing in a more central role and is so comfortable in possession. He looks like he needs to develop physically, but his technical ability is there for all to see.

CHANCE! And United should have five. The impressive Januzaj wins possession midway inside the Kitchee half and drives towards goal. He then squares a pass for Anderson inside the penalty area, but the midfielder gets his boot under the ball and it flies way over the target. He really should have scored from there.

GOAL! Kitchee 2-4 Man United (Akande)

It's a very good goal from a Kitchee point of view, but United will be disappointed with themselves defensively. Both Buttner and Keane afford Akande far too much space inside the area and he is able to carve out a shooting opportunity, which he converts with a low drive beyond the reach of Amos. Kitchee are making a game of it all of a sudden.

SUBSTITUTIONS: A couple of alterations for United as Rafael replaces his brother Fabio at full-back, while Phil Jones will come in to the heart of midfield for Carrick. Still no Van Persie, despite the crowd chanting his name.

More neat skills from Zaha, who is now operating on the left wing. He leaves the Kitchee defender for dead inside the penalty area, before standing up a cross. It's collected easily by Zhenpeng, but it's still positive play from the former Crystal Palace winger.

Massive cheers go up around the ground as Van Persie takes off his training top and replaces it with a United shirt. The Dutch striker will be with us shortly.

GOAL! Kitchee 2-5 Man United (Lingard)

Yet another wonderful goal on this tour by Lingard. He's faced with five, yes five, Kitchee defenders and yet he still scores. Having twisted the defence one way and then the other, he then curls the ball from the edge of the area and into the top corner of the net. He now has four goals on this pre-season trip and is bound to have forced his way into Moyes's thinking for the new season. Meanwhile, Van Persie is on, much to the delight of the crowd.

CHANCE! The local side should really only be one goal behind now. It appears that a free kick has been overhit but the ball is kept in play and dinked back into the area. It's all set up for Adrian Heathesque, but his diving header from six yards out drifts wide of the upright.

We will have three minutes of stoppage at the end of what has been an entertaining friendly clash.

CHANCE! Smalling could, and perhaps should have his second of the contest. Van Persie drills over a cross from the right for the defender, who had remained in the penalty area from an earlier free kick. His control is good and so is the shot, but the ball skids inches wide of the post.

FULL TIME: Kitchee 2-5 Manchester United

Well, that is a good way for United to end their tour. They were dominant for 99% of the match and played some really good football on what was a challenging pitch. Moyes is bound to have been delighted with what he saw from the younger members of his squad - particularly Zaha, Januzaj and Lingard. They will now play in Sweden next week, before Rio Ferdinand's testimonial and the Community Shield against Wigan Athletic. Then the real stuff starts against Swansea City on Saturday, August 17.

That is all we have time for this afternoon. Thanks for joining us and be sure to check back on the site later today for some match reaction. Until next time, goodbye.

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