MU wins fourth consecutive pre-season friendly match

(Football results) - Manchester United beat Leeds United at Croke Park in the second-to-last pre-season friendly, prevailing 5-4 in a penalty shootout.

Coach Michael Carrick made six changes from the 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg. Senne Lammens, who now wears the number 1 jersey for Man Utd, replaced Tom Heaton in goal, while Diogo Dalot started instead of Mazraoui. The Portuguese defender was also given the captain's armband, while Bruno Fernandes was on the bench for the first 60 minutes.

Man Utd had their first shot on target in the 7th minute when Dalot tried his luck from distance, but James Trafford easily saved it. A few minutes later, Dalot made another impact with a low cross for Zirkzee to volley, forcing Leeds' expensive goalkeeper to make a save.

Zirkzee capped off Man Utd's positive first 15 minutes by opening the scoring. The Dutch striker received a pass from Bryan Mbeumo after a quick counter-attack down the left flank and finished accurately. Mbeumo almost doubled the lead immediately after when his shot headed towards Trafford's left post, but the Leeds goalkeeper managed to push it away.

Just before the 30th minute, Leeds found the equalizer. Dan James, a former Man Utd player, handled the ball skillfully in the penalty area of his old club before setting up Aaronson to finish into the low corner, beating Lammens. Man Utd almost regained the lead when Mbeumo's shot hit a Leeds player and then the crossbar. The two teams went into halftime with a 1-1 draw.

Carrick made three changes at the start of the second half, bringing on Tynan Thompson, Toby Collyer and Dan Armerto replace Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, Andrey Santos, and Ayden Heaven. Lammens soon had to make a save, blocking a close-range effort from Harry Wilson. After that, the Belgian goalkeeper comfortably dealt with a shot from Alfie Cresswell just outside the box.

These chances prompted Carrick to make another seven substitutions with less than 30 minutes remaining. Bruno Fernandes, Youri Tielemans, and Matheus Cunha were brought on in hopes of helping Man Utd find a decisive goal.

Dermot Mee replaced Lammens after just over an hour of play and immediately faced a powerful shot from James Justin. The young goalkeeper made an excellent save, denying Leeds a second goal. Bruno Fernandes then put the ball into the Leeds net with a precise one-touch finish, but the goal was disallowed for a narrow offside.

Man Utd hit the woodwork again in the final minutes. Fernandes continued to make his mark with a beautiful shot that hit the crossbar, just minutes after his goal was disallowed.

Neither team could score another goal in regular time, forcing the match to be decided by a penalty shootout to determine the friendly trophy winner. Bruno Fernandes surprisingly missed his penalty, but earlier Dermot Mee had given Man Utd an advantage by saving Harry Wilson's shot.

In the "sudden death" style penalty shootout in the final rounds, James Justin hit the crossbar. Mazraoui then calmly converted the decisive penalty, securing a 5-4 overall victory for Man Utd.

This is Man Utd's fourth win in the pre-season period. Previously, they drew 1-1 with PSG, beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 and Rosenborg 5-0, and lost 0-1 to Wrexham on July 18.

Mazraoui converts the winning penalty

Man Utd lineup: Lammens (Mee 61'); Dalot (c, Mazraoui 60'), Yoro, Heaven (Armer 45'), Amass (Shaw 61'); Santos (Collyer 45'), T. Fletcher (Tielemans 61'); Amad (J. Fletcher 61'), Zirkzee (Cunha 61'), Dorgu (Thompson 45'); Mbeumo (Fernandes 60').

Unused substitutes: Heath, Honor, Gabriel, Lacey. Goals: Zirkzee 16'.

Leeds lineup: Trafford (Cairns 45'); Muharemovic (Cresswell 45'), Bijol (Roden 45'), Bornauw; Bogle (Gnonto 45'), Tanaka (Ampadu 45'), Longstaff (Stach 45'), James (Okafor 45'); Aaronson (Wilson 45'), Chadwick (Justin 45'); Nmecha (Calvert-Lewin 45').

Unused substitutes: Mahady, Lienou, Mills, Piroe. Goals: Aaronson 29'.