Manchester United travelled to Poland to face Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan on Saturday afternoon.
First half
United started strongly, and after Matheus Cunha won the ball back, Patrick Dorgu fired an effort across goal that the Milan keeper had to touch over.
Michael Carrick’s side took an early lead after just two minutes when Bruno Fernandes’ corner found Harry Maguire, who nodded in the opener. After nine minutes, Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans were sloppy in the middle of the park and lost the ball twice to Ruben Loftus-Cheek, but his effort was right down the throat of Senne Lammens.
Fifteen minutes in, Milan were denied again by Lammens when Loftus-Cheek again fired the ball at goal, but the Belgian’s foot expertly got in the way. Alphadjo Cissè was next to have an effort after some slick work from Milan, but his shot sailed over the bar.
Ardon Jashari was the next to threaten the United goal after a free kick was laid off to him, but he lashed the ball recklessly wide. Carrick’s side were happy to let Milan have the ball, with neither team threatening for a period of time.
Milan grabbed a deserved equaliser after 37 minutes when the ball was lost at a United throw-in and Goncalo Ramos broke free to square the ball to Samuel Chukwueze, who slotted the ball into an empty net. United responded right away, and Noussair Mazraoui played the ball across goal for Fernandes, whose shot was saved by Lorenzo Torriani.
Milan contributed to their own downfall after 41 minutes when they lost the ball playing out from the back and it found its way to Youri Tielemans. The Belgian had an effort on goal, but the referee judged that he was pulled back and the penalty was given.
Fernandes stepped up, but he missed his second penalty in successive games and the scoreline remained 1-1.
Little happened after, and the half-time whistle blew with the scores level.
Second half
United started with gusto in the second half, and Fernandes’ deep cross was headed back by Patrick Dorgu, with the ball rebounding off the Milan defender into the grateful Torriani’s hands.
The Red Devils got their reward when a poor throw-in resulted in the ball breaking to Dorgu in the box, and he took his time to place the ball past the Milan keeper. United’s performance was littered with poor decisions, and more resulted in Milan’s equaliser after 59 minutes.
Chukwueze found acres of space on the right-hand side, and his effort was turned in by Cisse, who broke free of the United defenders. Sixty-two minutes saw a raft of changes, and fascinatingly, Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo joined the action against Amorim.
The Italians got themselves ahead for the first time in the match when Chukwueze was again left in acres of space, and he picked out Ramos in the box, who headed in under little pressure. United were taken apart on the right side once again for the fourth goal when Loftus-Cheek broke through on goal and slid in against Lammens to give Milan a 4-2 lead.
Rashford had the perfect opportunity to do some damage to Amorim when he was played in by Lisandro Martinez, but he failed to reach the ball over the top.
United pushed for their third goal but could do little to breach the Milan defence.
Francesco Camarda had a couple of efforts late on but United will be disappointed.
The game petered out and Amorim had the last laugh over his former employers. United will be scratching their heads and hoping next week against Hull City will go much better.
First XI: Lammens, Mazraoui, Heaven, Maguire, Shaw, Tielemans, Andrey Santos, Fernandes, Dorgu, Amad, Cunha
Subs: Dalot, Lacey, Mainoo, Rashford, Martinez, Mbeumo
Feature image Naomi Baker via Getty Images
