Sports
Sanchez hits top form before incredible 26-penalty shoot-out in California
Manchester United registered the first of their US pre-season tour in the US after a penalty shoot-out win over AC Milan.
Jose Mourinho’s side drew with the Serie A side but eventually came out on top in a mammoth shoot-out which saw 26 penalties taken before United emerged triumphant.
Alexis Sanchez gave United the lead in the 12 minute, but that was cancelled out by Milan’s Suso three minutes later.
Sanchez was United’s stand-out performer and continued to look sharp on his second tour appearance, but was unable to inspire United to victory.
United were without striker Anthony Martial, who left the tour party to be with his partner, who is due to give birth to their son at any time.
Sanchez took Martial’s place up front for United and was full of energy and enterprise, marking him out as his side’s best player.
Here are five talking points from the game…
1. Sanchez fills the void
With Anthony Martial having left the US tour to be with his partner, who is about to give birth, and Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford on extended post-World Cup breaks, there was a void up front for United.
It was filled by Alexis Sanchez, who opened the scoring in the 12 minute with a composed finish after being put through by Juan Mata.
Sanchez was United’s stand-out player, causing Milan problems with his pace, movement and guile, and the Chilean looks hungry and fresh after a first full summer off for nine years.
2. United’s three-man defence caught out
Mourinho experimented with a back three, but the system fell apart for Milan’s equaliser in the 15 minute. Axel Tuanzebe lost Suso, while Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling proceeded to play the Milan striker onside.
So ponderous was United’s defending that Suso was even afforded the luxury of allowing the ball to bounce once before hitting it flush and sending an angled shot beyond the reach of Lee Grant.
Mourinho was rightly furious, gesturing as much to his coaching staff, his actions confirming His belief that his defence were guilty of switching off at a critical moment.
3. Darmian could earn reprieve
With United skipper and first-choice right-back Antonio Valcencia having flown home after suffering a torn calf muscle in the second game of the tour, Matteo Darmian – who was set to be offloaded this summer – fulfilled both roles against Milan.
Darmain may yet be sold abroad after the Premier League’s transfer deadline on August 9, but with Valencia and new right-back Diogo Dalot both sidelined through injury, the Italian is in line to start United’s opening game of the season at home to Leicester on August 10.
Darmian got into plenty of forward positions in his wing-back role here, but is likely to play in a traditional full-back role if he gets the nod, with Mourinho more than likely to start the season with a flat back-four.
4. Shaw struggles to impress Mourinho
Like Darmian, Luke Shaw is set to start the new season, as United’s first-choice left-back, with Ashley Young on an extended break following his World Cup heroics, Marcos Rojo also absent and with Daley Blind having returned to Ajax.
Shaw is entering a make-or-break season, the biggest of his turbulent four-year United career, with only one year left on his current contract.
Mourinho has kept faith in Shaw, despite publicly berating and shaming him during his two years in charge, in a bid to get the best out of the 23-year-old. Shaw lasted 74 minutes here, but did little of note, and lost the ball right under Mourinho’s nose, moments before he was hooked, and walked straight to the dressing-room with a member of United’s backroom team.
Shaw, who continually cut back inside on his forays down the left and who frequently lost possession, must do better than this if he is to totally convince Mourinho of his worth, and there is still much work to do be done before he can reach that stage.
5. Bonucci shows his enduring class
Mourinho wants to sign a centre-back before the transfer deadline in a fortnight’s time and has targeted Leicester and England World Cup star Harry Maguire.
But the United boss could do worse than make a bid for Milan skipper Leonardo Bonucci, who oozed class in the middle of defence for the Serie A side, and played an exquisite ball over the top to Suso for his side’s equaliser to cancel out Sanchez’s opener.
While United’s three-man defence struggled at times, Bonucci showed great awareness and anticipation of danger, and is the commanding centre-half figure Mourinho craves.
Real Madrid produced a spectacular comeback against Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final with Joselu striking twice late on, earning them a 2-1 win on Wednesday to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Alphonso Davies smashed the visiting German giants ahead in the second half but record 14-time winners Madrid produced a sensational comeback with Joselu netting in the 88th and 91st minutes.
Bayern Munich’s Canadian midfielder #19 Alphonso Davies scores his team’s first goal in spite of Real Madrid’s Ukrainian goalkeeper #13 Andriy Lunin during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Spanish champions Real Madrid face another German side, Borussia Dortmund, in the Wembley final on June 1, after they stunned the team they call their “black beast”.
Squad player Joselu, on as a late substitute, wrote his name in Madrid’s history books with his last-gasp brace.
Bayern Munich’s English forward #09 Harry Kane reacts to their defeat after the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
“There have been a lot of times we have looked dead and buried, but we have that mentality of never say die,” said Real midfielder Jude Bellingham.
“Joselu deserves it all, he has been an amazing squad member this season.”
Madrid had enjoyed the better of the match but it seemed Davies’ superb strike had set up a repeat of the 2013 all-German final in London.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel made three changes from the first leg, benching veteran Thomas Mueller and Leon Goretzka.
Dani Carvajal started for Madrid after missing the first leg suspended and was heavily involved as the hosts dominated the opening stages.
Real Madrid players celebrate their second goal scored by Real Madrid’s Spanish forward #14 Joselu during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Rodrygo Goes was inches away from converting Carvajal’s low cross and the Spain defender then cleverly set up Vinicius Junior with a pass nutmegging a defender, and Manuel Neuer tipped the Brazilian’s shot against the post.
The rebound fell to Rodrygo but his effort was weak and with a desperate arm Neuer was able to claw it out to complete a fine double save.
Bayern’s Serge Gnabry limped off injured with Davies replacing him before Harry Kane’s first flash of danger.
Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was alert to push the England captain’s vicious long-range volley around the post.
Neuer palmed away a Vinicius free-kick as the teams ended a high-intensity, relentlessly frantic first half level.
The second period was just as fraught, with Davies’ cross deflecting onto the roof of Lunin’s goal.
Vinicius was unplayable down Madrid’s left and Rodrygo prodded his low cross agonisingly wide of the far post.
The 38-year-old Neuer made superb saves to deny both Brazilian forwards again before the hour mark as Madrid controlled the game and ratcheted up the pressure.
However just as in Munich, when Los Blancos were at their strongest, Bayern pounced.
Kane fed Davies and the Canada international cut inside from the left and smashed a shot beyond Lunin into the far top corner after 68 minutes.
Madrid thought they had levelled moments later through Nacho but after a VAR review the strike was ruled out as the defender had grabbed Joshua Kimmich’s face before shooting.
Tuchel took off Kane in the final stages to try and hold on to victory but it slipped through his fingers as Madrid produced more indelible European memories.
Neuer, who had been sublime to this point, fumbled what appeared a simple Vinicius strike and Joselu gratefully bundled home from close range.
With Bayern reeling Madrid struck again, decisively. It was Joselu once more, the striker on loan from second division side Espanyol, turning home after Antonio Rudiger cut the ball back to him.
The goal was ruled offside but officials overturned the decision after review, and after nearly 15 minutes of stoppage time, Madrid earned the chance to go for their 15th Champions League trophy.
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