Manchester United 1, Fiorentina 1 (Snapdragon Cup – United win 5-4 on Penalties)
United finished their pre-season preparation with a game at Old Trafford against David De Gea’s Fiorentina after unveiling summer signings including Benjamin Sesko.
De Gea was substituted off to warm applause before the penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw which the Reds won 5-4 with Kobbie Mainoo lashing the winning spot kick home after Fabiano Parisi’s spot kick was saved by Altay Bayindir.
United showed off their attacking signings, including new £73m signing Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon, and Bryan Mbeumo, but all eyes were on the defence as Andre Onana was not included in the match day squad and the defence looked less than convincing against the Italians.
Signs of weakness at the back had already been signalled when veteran ex-Man City striker Edin Dzeko found space on the right and crossed for Moise Kean who beat Leny Yoro in the air but headed over the bar.
And after 8 minutes the fears became real as United conceded from a corner from the same side, Simon Salomon Junor Sohm was in acres of space near the penalty spot and had plenty of time to guide the ball past Altay Bayindir.
United showed brief glimpses of good attacking play but Amad Diallo wasted a solid chance to open the scoring for United while Harry Maguire headed a free kick by new signing Bryan Mbeumo past the back post.
The Reds made the most of their set pieces and had their equaliser after 25 minutes when Leny Yoro and Casemiro’s late runs onto the box distracted the defenders and the ball was bundled in past David De Gea by Robin Gosens as they panicked.
De Gea saved acrobatically from Yoro’s header as Mbeumo sent in one of his teasing crosses from the right following a corner routine as United looked to take the lead.
Sohm had a chance to score a second goal for Fiorentina but his effort came off the crossbar after he got on the end of Kean’s lifted cross into the box.
There was more desperate defending as Albert Gudmundsson’s shot was eventually put out of play as Fiorentina went on the offensive in the second half.
A barrage of customary friendly substitutions broke up the flow of the game but Old Trafford entertained themselves by giving Dzeko boos as he was subbed off.
Contrast that with the standing ovation that David De Gea got when he was substituted with 3 minutes to go – a rendition of “Oh David De Gea” followed.
The popular ex-United keeper avoided the penalty shootout that followed the full time draw – and boss Ruben Amorim will hope that lifting the Snapdragon Cup will be just the tonic that the Reds need going into the new season.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 1, Fiorentina 1 (Snapdragon Cup – United win 5-4 on Penalties)
Altay Bayindir: 6. Not much he could do with the goal, but doesn’t look anything like the safe pair of hands that United need despite saving the Fiorentina penalty that meant the Reds lifted the Snapdragon Cup.
Leny Yoro: 6. Eventful first half, lost Simon Sohm for opening goal, contributed to confusion leading to equaliser for United. Big hit to the face – after he stopped a shot with his face.
Harry Maguire: 6. Header wide. Probably United’s best defender on the day but Fiorentina played round him. Was encouraged to shoot in the second half and had a shot saved.
Ayden Heaven: 6. Deflected cross off him almost led to a Fiorentina goal and had a header saved by David De Gea.
Amad: 6. Used as a right wing back which might be his best chance to get into the team this season. Early chance to score spurned but super confident enough to try a Panenka in the shootout.
Casemiro: 6. Forced the United equaliser with a late run. Header over the bar in the second half. Looked a little isolated in the second half as United went for the win and committed more players forward.
Bruno Fernandes: 6. Corner led to goal. Shot over the bar in the second half and started to push into attacking positions – leaving space behind him.
Patrick Dorgu: 6. Spent a lot of time high up the pitch and was thwarted with a couple of late runs.
Mason Mount: 6. In his preferred advanced number 10 role and linked up well, taken off late in the game.
Matheus Cunha: 6. Good movement and looked lively at times and appealed for a penalty after going down cheaply in the first half. Great chance to score in second half but dragged it wide, late shot deflected over the bar.
Bryan Mbeumo: 7. Used up front today but dropped deep often. Dangerous delivery from several crosses from the right created lots of chances, faded in second half.
Mathijs De Ligt (on for Harry Maguire, 74): 6.
Luke Shaw (on for Ayden Heaven, 74): 6.
Kobbie Mainoo (on for Casemiro, 74): 6. Scored the winning penalty
Diogo Dalot (on for Bryan Mbeumo, 74): 6.
Manuel Ugarte (on for Mason Mount, 84): No time to mark
PENALTIES – Manchester United 1, Fiorentina 1 (Snapdragon Cup – United win 5-4 on Penalties)
0-1. Moise Kean rolled his penalty into the bottom right corner, sending Altay Bayindir the wrong way
1-1. Bruno Fernandes rolled his penalty into the bottom left corner, Tommasso Martinelli went the wrong way
1-2. Jacopo Fazzini blasted his penalty high and to the left, beating Altay Bayindir who guessed right.
2-2. Matheus Cunha coolly rolled his spot kick into the bottom right corner, leaving Tommasso wrong footed.
2-3. Abdelhamid Sabiri found the bottom left corner with Altay Bayindir diving the wrong way.
3-3. Diogo Dalot drilled his shot down the middle, Tommasso Martinelli dived to his right.
3-4. Cher Ndour fired his shot into heh bottom left corner
4-4. Amad Diallo’s extremely cheeky Panenka defeated Tommasso Martinelli.
4-4 Fabiano Parisi went low to the right too too close to Atlay Bayındır who guessed right and saved.
5-4 Kobbie Mainoo lashed the winning penalty into the left side beyond the reach of Tomasso Martinelli
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 1, Fiorentina 1 (Snapdragon Cup – United win 5-4 on Penalties)
Man Utd: Bayindir, Yoro, Maguire (De Ligt 74), Heaven (Shaw 74), Amad, Casemiro (Mainoo 74), Fernandes (C), Dorgu, Mount (Ugarte 84), Cunha, Mbeumo (Dalot 74)
Man Utd Subs not used: Heaton, Mee, Hojlund, Obi, Fredricson, Leon, Collyer
Goal: Gosens 25 og
Referee: Sam Barrott