Manchester United Asian tour 2 [ S. Korea ]

Report: FC Seoul 0 United 4

Pre-season friendly
Seoul World Stadium, Seoul

FC Seoul 0

Manchester United 4
Ronaldo, Eagles, Rooney, Evra


Chris Eagles and Patrice Evra both got on the scoresheet as United trounced FC Seoul 4-0 in the Reds' second pre-season tour match.

United, inspired by an effective and entertaining performance from Cristiano Ronaldo, were clinical in front of goal and sped to a 3-0 lead after just 21 minutes. Evra capped the scoring on the hour to seal an impressive win in front of a fanatical Korean crowd.

The Reds made four changes to the side that started against Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday, with Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Wes Brown and Darren Fletcher all rested. Injuries again prevented fans from getting a first glimpse of new signings Owen Hargreaves and Nani, but Sir Alex handed starts to Chris Eagles and Phil Bardsley. Elsewhere, Mikael Silvestre and John O'Shea were called into the starting XI.

With both Silvestre and Evra in the side, the manager gave the Frenchman the freedom to push into midfield and he showed off his skills as early as the third minute with a cheeky back-heel pass.

But it was the star combination of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo that put the Reds in front on six minutes. With his back to goal, Rooney laid the ball square to Ronaldo who was given far too much space to run at the defence. In fact, nobody moved towards the Portuguese international, who advanced to the edge of the area before unleashing a low shot that beat Seoul goalkeeper Kim Byung-Ji at his right-hand post.

Rooney and Ronaldo carved open the defence again 10 minutes later but Ronaldo's touch was too heavy and the ball ran out for a goal kick. He got it right just nine minutes later when he cheekily dragged the ball inside to Chris Eagles on the edge of the area. Eagles, who last netted at Goodison Park in April, had time to pick his spot and curl the ball inside the left-hand upright to send United 2-0 up.

Rooney added a third two minutes later when FC Seoul were again found guilty of backing off United's attackers. The England international turned his marker before shifting the ball onto his right foot and blasting past Kim at the near post.

United were cruising at 3-0 but remained disciplined and continued to pass the ball freely. Ronaldo took the opportunity to show off a few tricks as the half drew to a close and even garnered squeals of delight from the crowd when he poured water over his head.

Sir Alex made wholesale changes at half-time, with Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Alan Smith, Tomasz Kuszczak and Danny Simpson all given opportunities to impress.

FC Seoul emerged much sharper in the second half and almost pulled back a goal on 49 minutes. Nemanja Vidic was booked for a foul out wide and the resulting free-kick was curled in dangerously by Seoul's Portuguese midfielder, Ricardo. Defender Tae-Hwi Kwak was first on the scene but headed wide from just six yards.

The home side certainly showed more adventure after the break and kept Tomasz Kuszczak on his toes. But the Reds' fourth never looked too far away and it duly arrived in the 60th minute when Patrice Evra, released by Ryan Giggs, strode into the box and fired low and hard across the goalkeeper.

Seoul never recovered and failed to create any clear chances in the remaining half an hour. In the end it was a comfortable victory for United and an occasion the Korean fans will remember for many years.

Team Line-ups:

United: van der Sar (Kuszczak, 45), Bardsley (Simpson, 45), Ferdinand, Vidic (Evans, 77), Silvestre, Eagles, Carrick (Scholes, 45), O'Shea, Evra, Rooney (Smith, 45), Ronaldo (Giggs, 45)

FC Seoul: Kim (Kim, 82), Kwak, Adilson, Lee (Kim, 45), Kon (Koh, 73), Choi, Ki (Song, 82), Lee Chung-Yong, Ricardo (Ahn, 73), Lee, Jung (Shim, 45)

Manchester United Asian tour 1 [ Japan ]

Report: Urawa 2 United 2

Pre-season friendly
Saitama Stadium, Tokyo

URAWA 2
Uchidate, Ono

UNITED 2
Fletcher, Ronaldo

Despite scoring twice in a frantic five-minute period at the start of the second half, United ended the first Asia Tour match on level terms with Urawa Red Diamonds in Tokyo's Saitama Stadium.

Inspired by goals from Darren Fletcher and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Reds overturned a 1-0 half-time deficit to take the lead on 52 minutes. But drizzly conditions and a late equaliser from home crowd favourite Shinji Ono put a dampener on proceedings.

Despite the rain, both sides were determined to keep the ball on the ground and Paul Scholes was particularly effective early on, orchestrating United's attacks from the centre of midfield. Cristiano Ronaldo didn't disappoint his admirers either, pulling out his party tricks as early as the second minute.

The Portuguese winger, who drew cheers with every touch, forced Urawa Reds goalkeeper Tsuzuki into his first save on 25 minutes when he shot fiercely towards the near post.

But a minute later, the Premier League champions were behind. Urawa's Hideki Uchidate found space in the United half and let fly from 30 yards with a shot that swerved wickedly past Edwin van der Sar. In fact, the deviation was so severe, van der Sar was left diving in the wrong direction.

Urawa threatened again four minutes later but then seemed content to settle on the ball. So it was left to Wayne Rooney to inject a little sparkle into the match. With 43 minutes on the clock, Rooney provided an inch-perfect cross for Paul Scholes, but the midfielder could only steer his header into the arms of a grateful Tsuzuki.

A minute later, the England striker had everyone at the Saitama Stadium on their feet after coming within a whisker of a spectacular equaliser. Rooney picked up the ball inside the United half before turning on the speed to brush aside what seemed like most of the Urawa defence. But, when left with only Tsuzuki to beat, the Reds' no.10 scuffed his shot and the goalkeeper stretched out a right boot to divert it around the post.

Sir Alex made three changes at the interval, bringing on defenders Danny Simpson, Johnny Evans and Mikael Silvestre for Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra. Perhaps it should have been the home side shoring up the defence. It wasn't, and within seven minutes of the restart, United were 2-1 up.

Darren Fletcher scored the equaliser from 12 yards after substitute goalkeeper Yamagishi failed to hold a Michael Carrick shot moments earlier. Then, in the 52nd minute, the crowd got what they came for when Cristiano Ronaldo cut inside from the left wing to unleash a rasping drive past Yamagishi at the near post. It was typical of so many of Ronaldo's goals last season and a reminder of how dangerous the Portuguese winger can be when given space.

United looked comfortable thereafter but failed to capitalise on a number of half chances. Shinji Ono, however, was lethal when presented an opportunity in the 78th minute. The midfielder showed enormous composure to turn Johnny Evans and roll the ball coolly past Edwin van der Sar and into the far corner.

It was the last significant piece of action in an entertaining and free-flowing affair. The Reds now travel to South Korea for Friday's match against FC Seoul (kick-off 12:00 BST).

Team Line-ups:

United: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand (Evans, 45), Vidic (Simpson, 45), Evra (Silvestre, 45), Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick (O'Shea, 69), Giggs (Smith, 69), Scholes, Rooney
Subs: Kuszczak, Heaton, Bardsley

Urawa Red Diamonds: Tsuzuki (Yamagishi, 45), Hosogai, Horinouchi, Nene, Yamada, Uchidate (Hiriwaka, 45), Hasebe, Soma (Okano, 91), Ono, Ponte (Koike, 83), Tanaka (Nagai, 75)
Subs: Tsutsumi, Sakai, Nishizawa

News Out Field

Sunderland sign Richardson

After a string of summer arrivals, Kieran Richardson became the first player to walk through the Old Trafford exit door when he joined Sunderland on Monday in a four-year deal that sees the England international reunite with Reds legend Roy Keane.

Richardson, who played alongside Keane at Old Trafford between 2002 and 2005, was also thought to be a target for Everton and Middlesbrough. But Black Cats boss Keane came up trumps in the pursuit for the 22-year-old and now hopes the speedy midfielder can bolster his Championship-winning squad.

"I'm delighted we've been able to bring Kieran to Sunderland," Keane said.

"Having worked with him in the past I'm well aware of what a good player and a good lad he is. He's ready for a fresh challenge and hopefully Sunderland will provide that for him."

Richardson, who is expected to feature in Sunderland's friendly against Darlington on Wednesday, described the move as "exciting".

"I know all about Roy Keane and I'm looking forward to playing for his team. Sunderland is a big club and it's a great move for me."

Richardson joined United in July 2001 after a trainee spell at West Ham but didn't make his Reds debut until the following October when he came off the bench in a 3-2 Champions League victory over Olympiakos. Two weeks later he scored with a flying header against Leicester on his home debut.

Over the next 18 months, Richardson was handed only sporadic opportunities to prove his worth and, like so many other United youngsters, made his real mark away from Old Trafford during a loan spell.

At West Bromwich Albion, under the stewardship of Bryan Robson, Richardson excelled in the heart of the Baggies' midfield. His confidence grew during his six months at The Hawthorns and he returned to Old Trafford in May 2005 a more mature player