Man Utd complete impressive turnaround to beat Lens in penultimate pre-season friendly after Andre Onana concedes howler
MANCHESTER UNITED turned on the style to hit back against RC Lens and claim victory at Old Trafford.
It was all smiles after a comical first half from the Red Devils saw them go into the break 1-0 down.
But second-half goals from Marcus Rashford, Antony and Casemiro sealed the win.
What a day it had been for the new signings up to that point though.
Striker Rasmus Hojlund was introduced to the new crowd just as it was revealed he will miss the first two games of the season with an injury.
Mason Mount continued his ropey pre-season since a £60million switch from Chelsea by missing a sitter.
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Meanwhile Andre Onana proved that being a sweeper-keeper can leave you vulnerable as he was lobbed from 45 yards.
But a fired up United dominated last season’s La Ligue runners-up after the break.
They were level just three minutes from the restart when Antony released Rashford with a fine ball from the right and last season’s top scorer found the back of the net with the aid of a deflection.
Ten Hag’s men were ahead just five minutes later when a great touch by Rashford sent Alejandro Garnacho flying down the wing.
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The Argentinian international fired a crossfield ball for Antony whose first touch was poor but whose second beat Brice Samba who was slow off his line.
Casemiro was credited with number three on 58 minutes but didn’t know much about it.
Luke Shaw delivered the ball from the left, Rashford’s flick header was going wide until it his Casemiro on the forehead and beat the ‘keeper.
But what of the first-half?
It was the 15th minute when Mount’s chance presented itself.
A superb ball with the outside of his boot by Bruno Fernandes sent Garnacho away.
His first touch was poor but he managed to hook it back across goal and slightly behind Mount who swung and completely missed with the goal at his mercy.
Then on 23 minutes Onana found himself in the back of his own net.
He was out on the edge of his area when a loose pass by Diogo Dalot was seized upon by Florian Sotoca.
Spotting Onana well off his line he hit a brilliant chip that United’s new £47million goalkeeper tried to claw away as he back-peddled. He could not reach it and ended up in a heap in the netting with the ball beside him.
At that point you were wondering if a fourth successive pre-season defeat was on the cards after going down to Real Madrid, Wrexham and Borussia Dortmund in the US.
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The real United emerged second-half.
This was a confidence booster as they head off to Dublin to face Athletic Bilbao tomorrow (Sunday).