Local lad James gives United shootout win in even clash

Manchester United remained unbeaten in pre-season after winning an entertaining penalty shootout with AC Milan. It was a 2-2 draw in normal time and so Benfica were the only team to get maximum points from their three matches. As a result, United, who had to win by three goals, did not win the tournament.

Man United started the game brightly and had the first chance after nine minutes when Castillejo played an inexplicable lateral pass, but Pereira fired wide. Rashford then forced Donnarumma into a lovely save with his curling effort before he scored in the 14th minute. Rashford got on the end of a long ball forward on the near side and beat Calabria and Mussachio before finding the far corner after a little deflection off Romagnoli.

Solskjaer's side then picked up for the next 10 minutes, but AC Milan then gave United a scare through Suso's effort with 25 minutes on the clock. The Spaniard struck it sweetly with his left peg from just outside the box and the ball just curled wide of De Gea's right hand post. Seconds later though, Suso levelled the scores. Matic lost the ball just outside the area, Borini then passed it to Suso who hit it into the keeper's right hand corner from 25 yards.

After the equaliser, the Italians were the better side for the rest of the first period and AC nearly went in front when Piatek dived in to head in Suso's ball in and although he did not connect, he distracted De Gea. The United shot stopper made a super save though. Right on half-time, Piatek had an opportunity, but De Gea saved from a tight angle after the Spaniard did well to force him wide initially. 

In the second period, Man Utd came out much stronger with some dangerous balls in, but Milan were still dangerous on the counter. In fact, in the 50th minute, they should have scored after Suso played in Piatek, but he hit a very tame effort at De Gea after he and the United defenders thought he was offside. He was not. United had more possession and territory in the first 15 minutes after the resumption, but on the hour mark and  against the run of play, they fell behind.

After Piatek won a corner, the set piece was taken short and Samu Castillejo put AC Milan in front with his header which took a touch off Lindelof. Many subs were then made by both teams and ex-Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina got lots of boos when he came on for the Italians.

Man Utd then tried to find an equaliser and Shaw came close 20 minutes from time after he hit Young's cross wide just after the ball had bounced. Two minutes later, Jesse Lingard forced penalties after Martial played him in. Lingard beat Pepe Reina to his bottom left hand corner after Shaw, Martial and Lingard combined in the build up.

AC Milan were then happy for penalties, but United looked for a winner. They came close twice in second half stoppage time, in fact. Fred hit a free-kick from just outside the box over the bar before Lingard hit straight at Reina after a superb run. However, there was no goal and we saw some top quality penalties

Marco Giampaolo's team went first from the spot and Calhanoglu, Bonnaventura, Andre Silva and Krunic all scored. In fact, only Krunic's was saveable and he was lucky to score it as De Gea got a good hand to it. United also hit some top quality penalties thanks to Lingard, Young, 17 year-old Mason Greenwood and Angel Gomes who found the roof of the net with his unstoppable spot kick.

However, 17 year-old Daniel Maldini, son of Paolo, hit a terrible 5th penalty for Milan which was easilty saved by De Gea and the Welshman Daniel James made no mistake to conclude a great pre-season for Solskjaer's men. AC Milan, meanwhile, ended the tournament with just one point, but still have two weeks of pre-season left.