Manchester United Beat Real Madrid in Underwhelming PK Shootout in 2017 ICC
Real Madrid and Manchester United drew 1-1 in the 2017 International Champions Cup at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, with the Red Devils winning 2-1 by a penalty shootout Sunday.
Jesse Lingard gave United the lead shortly before half-time as the English giants scored against the run of play.
Casemiro provided Los Blancos an equaliser from the penalty spot after Victor Lindelof scythed down teenager Theo Hernandez with 21 minutes remaining.
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United won 2-1 on penalties to claim the ICC points in front of a lively West Coast crowd.
United manager Jose Mourinho gave starts to Andreas Pereira and Tim Fosu-Mensah against Los Blancos, as the self-proclaimed Special One attempted to give minutes to his fringe. Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba both started on the bench.
Real selected Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema in attack, with coach Zinedine Zidane opting for a strong selection from the first whistle.
Despite the UEFA Champions League holders' superiority on paper, it was the Red Devils who made the brighter start.
Anthony Martial was dangerous in the opening moments, linking with Lingard and Marcus Rashford as they pushed forward with pace.
However, Los Blancos slowly worked their way into the encounter, forcing themselves through the pain barrier as they focussed on their fitness in the heat of the day.
Real dominated territory moving toward half-time, with United losing the early impetus they had earned.
Eric Bailly once again showed off his long-term potential for United with a superb first-half display, as Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News highlighted:
Rashford became isolated as United laboured, and it appeared Real would soon grab the lead before the end of the first half.
Phil Jones saved United as Bale attacked from wide, clearing the Welsh superstar's pinpoint cross to Benzema at the far post.
However, it was Mourinho's men who should have made it 1-0 after 40 minutes when Lingard watched his flash shot move just wide of the target as goalkeeper Keylor Navas scrambled.
The opportunity fired up the English side, and it led to an opener for United, Martial dribbling through the Real defence to assist Lingard for an easy finish.
Martial danced and jigged as he cut in from the left, and he rolled the ball across the six-yard area for his team-mate to score—making it 1-0 at the interval.
Both teams made wholesale changes for the second half, with Mourinho bringing on new centre-back Lindelof with Lukaku and Pogba.
Ander Herrera was only on the pitch for five minutes before suffering injury, forcing him off prematurely.
Real once again dominated the ball, with United waiting on the counterattack as they gave their opponent space.
Disaster struck for United as Lindelof was late to a tackle on Theo, giving the referee no choice but to award a penalty after 69 minutes.
Casemiro smashed his effort from the spot past second-half substitute David De Gea to draw his side level.
De Gea saved United as Real searched for winner, but both teams were clearly fatigued in the closing stages.
Marouane Fellaini missed a fine opportunity to win the game as the clock ticked down, with the Belgium international skying his shot when unmarked in the box.
The game ended 1-1, triggering a penalty shootout to decide the winner.
Martial blazed United's first penalty over the bar after a poor effort, but De Gea saved Mateo Kovacic's shot.
United youngster Scott McTominay missed the next penalty, but De Gea was once again the hero as he saved from Oscar.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan made it 1-0 United as he passed the ball home, and Madrid equalised through Quezada.
Lindelof's day got worse as he missed his spot-kick, but poor penalties from Theo and Casemiro gave United the win as Daley Blind converted.
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