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Manchester United Video of the Week: Sir Alex Does Mexican Wave at Legends Match

Max TowleJun 6, 2018

Old Trafford was a scene of fond reminiscence Sunday, as Manchester United and Real Madrid legends met in a keenly fought exhibition match.

Playing for the club for which he is currently the Director of Football, Real Madrid's Zinedine Zidane was perhaps the biggest drawcard for the 60,000-odd in attendance.

There was also Luis Figo, the newly retired Paul Scholes, Fernando Morientes and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

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Captain Fantastic Bryan Robson took charge of the home team but could have better served them by putting on a shirt himself.

Having played for both sides during his career, Dutch hitman Van Nistelrooy swapped shirts at halftime and consequently scored the Red Devils' only goal of the game in the second half.

Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke resurrected the attacking partnership that led United to Treble-winning glory in 1999.

From the same vintage, underrated stalwart Denis Irwin could be found in his familiar left-back role, while Ronny Johnsen and Jaap Stam partnered in central defence.

It was Los Blancos who triumphed 2-1 on the day, and 5-3 on aggregate, with the previous game being played last year.

Zidane, Scholes and Co. showed that while their legs may have gone, their class is permanent. Edwin van der Sar too made several top saves between the sticks.

Zidane ran the show in central midfield, displaying a typically assured touch and undiminished vision.

Many were unable to hack the full 90, most notably Henning Berg, who had to be replaced after only nine minutes.

Morientes was the man to eventually beat the United legend, finding the corner of the net late in the first half with a driven shot from deep.

Van Nistelrooy levelled things in the second, before a delicious late chip from Real's Ruben de la Red gave the away side the win.

The result was unimportant, though, on an occasion which was more about the charity Red Heart United than the action on the pitch.

The crowd seemed in good spirits, not least of all retired United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who enthusiastically joined in with a Mexican wave at one point.

Manchester United Legends: Edwin van der Sar (Raymond van der Gouw 70); Henning Berg (Lee Martin 9), Jaap Stam, Ronny Johnsen, Denis Irwin; Clayton Blackmore (Ruud van Nistelrooy 46), Quinton Fortune, Paul Scholes, Lee Sharpe (Ben Thornley 51, Jesper Blomqvist 87); Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole.

Real Madrid Legends: Pedro Contreras (Carlos Sanchez 62); Michel Salgado (Francisco Pavon 69), Ivan Helguera, Francisco Pavon (Steve McManaman 46), Jose Emilio Amavisca; Luis Figo (Rafael Martin Vazquez 78), Fernando Hierro, Claude Makelele (Sanz 62), Zinedine Zidane; Fernando Morientes, Ruud van Nistelrooy (Ruben de la Red 46).

Mbappé's Rollercoaster Season 🎢

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