Man United 1 AC Milan 1 (9-8 on pens): Alexis Sanchez stars in pre-season friendly before bonkers shootout in Los Angeles
Jose Mourinho's side won their first game on tour in the United States after a crazy penalty shootout in LA
AT LEAST Jose Mourinho has Alexis Sanchez to cheer him up.
Not much else is out here in the States.
Injuries, World Cup absentees, the departing Anthony Martial and a failure by the club to land all his transfer targets have left Mourinho in a dark mood.
Sanchez’s initial inability to enter America due to a Visa problem did not exactly kick this five game tour off well either.
Now he is here he is bringing quality to proceedings.
He was star man in his first game, a 1-1 draw with San Jose Earthquakes and it was the same again on Wednesday.
JUAN TOUCH Juan Mata leaves Manchester United fans salivating after exquisite through ball for Alexis Sanchez
Mourinho needed him out here to start building a better understanding with his teammates after looking lost in the second-half of last season after joining in January.
The United boss wants him linking up with Juan Mata and they certainly did last night for the opening goal in the StubHub Center against AC Milan.
It was the 12th minute when Mata picked the Chilean out with a superb through ball.
Sanchez had timed his run so well he had a quick look at the linesman to check he was inch perfect to beat the offside trap.
Joel Pereira had to take a penalty for Manchester United, but saw it saved
The flag stayed down and Sanchez kept his cool to plant a low shot into the far bottom corner.
Mourinho is desperate to get a new centre-back in the form of Harry Maguire and the equaliser from Milan three minutes later emphasised why.
United were playing three at the back and non of them picked Suso’s run onto a 50 yard ball from captain Leonardo Bonucci.
He was in and finished past new signing Lee Grant.