Man Utd 2-1 West Ham: Bruno with a brace to kick off Man United's preseason

Game is over and the final score is Man Utd 2-1 West Ham. Here is the match report.

Match Report

Manchester United defeated West Ham United 2–1 in preseason action on Saturday at MetLife Stadium kicking off their Premier League Summer Series with a win.

Rasmus Højlund, handed a start up top with Bruno Fernandes and summer signing Matheus Cunha playing in the pockets behind him, nearly sent the Man Utd support at MetLife Stadium into a frenzy in the opening minutes. The Danish striker hit the woodwork as the Red Devils pushed on.

Moments later from a set piece, West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola coughed up a loose ball after colliding with El Hadji Malick Diouf. In the scramble, Areola fouled Ayden Heaven resulting in a penalty. Bruno Fernandes, the player who received the biggest reception across both games in New Jersey on the day, calmly slotted home the opening goal of the game as Areola was rooted to his spot.

Most of the action in the opening period centered on the tactical battle between Man Utd’s Patrick Dorgu and West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Man Utd looked the sharper team in attack for the opening 20 minutes as Matheus Cunha, Fernandes and Højlund linked up around the edge of the box.

Leny Yoro received the first yellow card of the friendly in the 31st minute for time wasting and delaying the restart. The defender nearly made up for it shortly after when he nearly directed a header on target from a Fernandes corner. Amad Diallo also came close to doubling Man Utd’s lead in the 38th minute but was flagged offside.

Coming out of the tunnel for the second half, Amorim opted to keep his same 11 on the pitch. Fernandes was through on goal but could not get his feet right to beat Areola. The Portuguese captain was the most influential player on the pitch for the Red Devils, as he was most of last season. Just a couple minutes later, Fernandes finally doubled his tally catching Areola wrong-footed in the box.

Jarrod Bowen got the Hammers back into the game in the 63rd minute with a right-footed effort to beat Altay Bayındır. Players took a hydration break after the goal which prompted Amorim to make a wholesale team change. He brought out everyone sans Bayındır to see out the game.

Overall, a solid performance from a Man Utd team that is yet to introduce Bryan Mbeumo into the fold. The Cameroonian is with the team in the U.S., but did not participate today as he works his way back to match fitness. He could appear when Man Utd play Bournemouth in Chicago at Soldier Field on Wednesday.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

1' Hojlund hammers an effort off the post with barely a minute on the clock

5' Penalty Goal! Bruno gives Red Devils the lead! Man Utd 1-0 West Ham

15' Rasmus Hojlund gets a sight of goal but his effort goes over

28' Ward-Prowse sends a cross but Fullkrug misses the chance to pick up the ball

29' Bruno takes aim and fires over the bar from the edge of the box

32' Yellow Card! Yoro is the first player to be cautioned by the ref in this game

35' Leny Yoro's header is narrowly wide

38' Amad slots the ball home but it is ruled out for offside

43' Tomas Soucek heads towards goal, Bayindir does well to react and hold the ball

49' Bruno races through one on one but Areola makes the save

52' GOAL! Bruno curls a stunning effort into the far corner! Man Utd 2-0 West Ham

63' GOAL! Bowen fires a right-footed effort into top corner! Man Utd 2-1 West Ham

67' United change all of the outfielders, Obi, Mount, Shaw and others are on

83' Guilherme breaks down the left and fizzes a powerful effort but it goes wide

Line-ups

Man Utd XI: Bruno Fernandes, Altay Bayındır, De Ligt, Ugarte, Matheus Cunha, Amad Diallo Traore, Højlund, Mainoo, Yoro, Patrick Dorgu, Ayden Heaven

Subs: Heaton, Casemiro, Maguire, Luke Shaw, Mount, Dalot, Collyer, Tyler Fredricson, Ethan Williams, Jack Fletcher, Chido Obi, Sékou Koné, Bendito Mantato, Reece Munro, Diego León

West Ham XI: Areola, Füllkrug, Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Bowen, G. Rodriguez, Aguerd, Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Todibo, El Hadji Malick Diouf

Subs: Wes Foderingham, Cornet, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Paqueta, Andrew Irving, Freddie Potts, Callum Marshall, Luis Guilherme, Kaelan Casey, Oliver Scarles, Lewis Orford, preston fearon, airidas golambeckis, mohamadou kante