MANCHESTER UNITED have ended their post-season tour of Asia with a 3-1 win over Hong Kong.
Juninho gave the hosts a shock lead on 19 minutes after a huge blunder from Tom Heaton.
Minutes into the second half, Ruben Amorim’s much-changed side got back on level terms through Chido Obi.
The young forward doubled his tally in the 81st minute with a smart header before Ayden Heaven wrapped up proceedings in injury time as United completed the comeback after a woeful start.
- Match result: Man Utd 3-1 Hong Kong
- Man Utd team: 22. Heaton, 55. Fredricson, 35. Evans, 87. Kukonki, 80. Kamason, 18. Casemiro, 8. Fernandes, 41. Amass, 17. Garnacho, 72. Lacey, 9. Hojlund
- Subs: 1. Bayindir, 90. Armer, 13. Dorgu, 26. Heaven, 79. Munro, 42. Kone, 43, Collyer, 58. T.Fletcher, 37. Mainoo, 64. Moorhouse, 7. Mount, 92. Thwaites, 25. Ugarte, 16. Amad, 56. Obi
- Hong Kong team: Tse, Yue, Tsui, Jones, Camargo, Merkies, Fernando, Wong, Ngan, Juninho, Udebuluzor
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And the crowd goes… wild?
Man United lifted the Defining Education Challenge Cup after defeating Hong Kong with an ambiguous roar from the remaining crowd.
Amorim on Fernandes
The story of Bruno Fernandes will rumble on and on over the next couple days.
The Manchester United captain played the first half of his side’s 3-1 win over Hong Kong whilst his agent continues to gallivant around Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal circling for his signature – to the opposition of Amorim.
“I think he wants to stay. He is saying no to a lot of things. The club can find other ways to make money. The feeling I get is that he wants to continue for sure with Man United, you never know,” said Amorim in his post-match press conference.
‘Pleased with the kids’ – Amorim
On Chido Obi performance: “It’s a good feeling [two goals], but he needs to continue to train really hard because the Premier League is a different world and we have to improve as a team, but I’m really pleased with the kids.”
On the wider youth cohort: “I really liked the kids… Jimmy [Thwaites] in the last 15 minutes as a midfielder, he wants to play. These kind of young kids are really important and will have space in our team.”
Amorim speaks after win
Ruben Amorim has been speaking to various media following the club’s win against Hong Kong.
We’ll bring you the latest titbits that come out.
Ruben Amorim speaking to in-house club media: “It’s important for us to control the kids. To show them that to be a professional at Man United is really hard to maintain the levels. They have to continue.”
Chido Obi stats
Manchester United prospect Chido Obi stood out against Hong Kong as he transformed his team after coming off the bench to score a brace.
Obi, 17, joined United from Arsenal on September 2024 and has since hit the ground running.
The striker has amassed a whopping 14 goals in 15 appearances within Man Utd’s youth ranks.
The Denmark Under-21 international also played eight times with the first team.
Man Utd win silverware
Manchester United have endured their worst ever Premier League season.
However, United have still capped off the campaign with silverware.
After beating Hong Kong 3-1, the Red Devils lifted the Defining Education Challenge Cup.
What’s next for Man Utd?
The season is mercifully over for Manchester United…
Now United players and fans can spend the next month regrouping ahead of what they hope will be a completely different campaign.
A major squad revamp is expected to take place under manager Ruben Amorim with the Man Utd hierarchy’s blessings.
The Red Devils’ first pre-season friendly takes place on July 19 against Leeds before their second game with West Ham on July 27.
FULL-TIME: Hong Kong 1-3 Man Utd
And that’s it.
United’s season is, at long last, all over.
The Red Devils faithful can finally bury this dismal season in the dirt.
Perhaps the only positive from this tour was the promise shown by the club’s youngsters.
Obi’s brace led the way before Heaven capped off a strong display in defence by adding a goal of his own late on.
GOOOOAL Hong Kong 1-3 Man Utd
Ayden Heaven puts the cherry on top.
He is found in the area by a superb Amad cross to the far side of the area.
It’s been a good display from the teen in defence, deservedly topped off with a goal.
90′ Hong Kong 1-2 Man Utd
Hong Kong are pressing for an equaliser.
A sharp cross is delivered from the left side which is just about dealt with by the defence, with a minor touch seeing the ball trickle into the grateful path of Bayindir.
Four minutes of injury time to play now.
87′ Hong Kong 1-2 Man Utd
Man Utd now just need to see this out to avoid any further embarrassment.
Amad is a little too nonchalant as he tries to curl a shot into the top corner from a free-kick.
82′ GOOOOOAL Hong Kong 1-2 Man Utd
Obi scores again.
This time it’s a deft header from a Mount cross as he gets enough of a touch on it to direct a Mount cross into the far post.
If he scores with his right foot next, he will have a perfect hat-trick.
78′ Hong Kong 1-1 Man Utd
Mason Mount should have had a penalty but the referee did not whistle for one.
75′ Hong Kong 1-1 Man Utd
Immediately after the break finishes, Mainoo almost put United into the lead.
He got the ball and did some step-overs to try and bamboozle his marker as he drove towards goal with the ball.
But his shot ended up sailing over the bar.
72′ Hong Kong 1-1 Man Utd
Another drinks break is taking place now.
Amad has looked very bright when attacking his defender one-on-one.
He had one moment where he almost managed to lay-off Toby Collyer but saw the pass cut out at the last moment.
Two more subs take to the field in Jack Moorhouse and Jim Thwaites, replacing Collyer and Armer.
68′ Hong Kong 1-1 Man Utd
Heaven goes close at a corner.
Mount delivers a corner from the left side to the near post with Heaven making the run.
He then glances the ball towards the near post, but not quite enough for it to hit the back of the net.
A follow-up free-kick a moment later is clutched by the goalkeeper which sets the hosts on the counter-attack.
It is a bit of a scramble but Man Utd manage to just about stop Hong Kong from scoring two from two shots.
64′ Hong Kong 1-1 Man Utd
Hong Kong made out of their half for the first time this half after winning a corner.
However, nothing came of it with United able to spin the other way.
Ayden Heaven has been played through the middle of the defence, playing some good line breaking passes as he uses his slight edge in senior experience to help out Dan Armer and Reece Munro either side of him.
60′ Hong Kong 1-1 Man Utd
The wing-backs are combining well with the two No.10s.
Mainoo and Amad down the right with Mount and Dorgu down the left is causing plenty of problems and feeding Obi with chances to score.
The young ace poked a header just wide of the goal from a Mount cross after he combined with Dorgu.
56′ Hong Kong 1-1 Man Utd
Man Utd have wind in their sails now.
They are playing with real intensity and are getting shots away inside the penalty area.
50′ GOOOOAL Hong Kong 1-1 Man Utd
Chido Obi climbs off the bench to net for United.
Ugarte manages to poke the ball to the colossal teen in the penalty area, before he takes two touches with the ball to his right and lashes a shot into the back of the net on his weak foot.
It’s been a much brighter half from the new contingent on the pitch.
Amad has been able to have a run at right wing-back while combining with Mainoo.
Players back out and second half underway.
The second half is about to get underway.
The entire XI has been changed by Amorim at half-time.
Half-time stats
Man Utd have had all the shots and possession, yet find themselves behind in a stunning smash and grab at the moment.
Half-time: Hong Kong 1-0 Man Utd
United have been camped in the Hong Kong half all game.
However, another matching theme of the day is the MUTV stream crashing in the final minute of the half.
The timer was commentary could still be heard but the match itself was stuck on a frozen screen before jumping to when the players were leaving the field.
45′ Hong Kong 1-0 Man Utd
Fernandes, Kone and Garnacho combine in a press to win the ball back high from Hong Kong.
Garnacho lays the ball off to Fernandes, who plays a one-two and gets the ball back on the edge of the area, he then fakes a shot to move left and attempts a shot but sees it blocked by the recovering defender.
A follow up shot by a team-mate goes harmlessly wide.
43′ Hong Kong 1-0 Man Utd
Fredricson had a free header in the area after another pinpoint Fernandes delivery from a corner.
However, the contact is not clean as the ball goes into the ground and bounces straight into the goalkeepers hands.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
