Manchester United ended
their US tour in defeat as Neymar's
first-half goal gave Barcelona a 1-0
win in the International Champions Cup in Maryland. In a first half full of
chances, Neymar gave Barcelona the lead on 31 minutes, capitalising on Antonio Valencia's mistake to fire home
from close range.
Neymar put in a fine performance and it stayed 1-0 despite
both Jasper Cillessen and David de Gea making several fine stops.
The defeat at FedExField was United's first in pre-season, having beaten LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, Man City and
Real Madrid.
Jose Mourinho made eight changes from the starting XI following the
penalty shoot-out win over Real Madrid last week, bringing back Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba. Both goals were peppered in the first half, as
Barcelona came close on several occasions only to be denied by De Gea.
United had chances of their own. Lukaku poked over on the
stretch in the opening minutes, Marcus
Rashford saw a shot from an acute angle beaten away by Cillessen, and Paul
Pogba's ambitious 30-yard half-volley was tipped wide. It was some sloppy
defending that allowed Barcelona to take the lead. Having cut out Lionel Messi's through ball, Valencia
then turned into the danger and allowed Neymar to wrestle the ball off him and
score from six yards.
The game simmered down in the second half as Barcelona made
10 substitutions and United made five, though Mourinho's side did come close
through Anthony Martial's curling effort, which went just over. United looked
for an equalizer but couldn't find it, and Mourinho will be eager to check on Jesse Lingard's fitness after the
24-year-old was brought off with what looked to be a groin injury.
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