(Kwese.Espn) Romelu Lukaku became the first-ever player to score in a Manchester derby outside England as Manchester United beat rivals City 2-0 in the International Champions Cup.
But it was a debut to forget for City’s new signing Ederson Moraes, who Pep Guardiola brought in for £34.7m from Benfica to put an end to the goalkeeping problems that dogged his first season in charge.
The Brazilian was at fault for Lukaku’s 35th minute opener when he ran out of goal to cut out Paul Pogba’s through ball, but was beaten to the ball by the United striker, who then expertly squeezed in a finish from a tight angle.
And two minutes later United doubled their lead when Marcus Rashford exposed City’s wide open defending to latch on to Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s well-timed pass and fire a low shot past Ederson.
Paul Pogba, left, and Romelu Lukaku after Manchester United opened the scoring against Manchester City. Getty Images
Guardiola had started with an experimental side for his first game of the preseason. Kyle Walker made his debut following his £50m move from Tottenham while 17-year-old Phil Foden started in midfield and looked neat and composed on his first ever appearance for the first team.
The Stockport-born midfielder linked up neatly with Kevin de Bruyne and midway through the first half brought a good save from United keeper David de Gea, who also tipped a Sergio Aguero deflected shot over the bar.
Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, started with a strong lineup that looked something close to the team that will kick off the season back in Europe in the Super Cup against Real Madrid on Aug. 8.
But both sides made a raft of changes at half-time with seven new players coming on for City, including forgotten men Samir Nasri and Eliaquim Mangala — back after season-long loans away from the club — while United made four substitutions of their own.
But Rashford and Lukaku stayed on the pitch and almost extended United’s lead at the start of the second half. Ederson did well to tip wide Rashford’s mishit cross before Lukaku slammed a vicious, curling shot against the post after John Stones had gifted him the ball on the edge of the box.
Nasri went close to pulling a goal back in the 72nd minute when Sergio Romero’s clumsy punch dropped to the Frenchman, but his 30-yard lob looped over the bar.
Gabriel Jesus wasted another opportunity when he shot off-target from 10 yards out while Fernandinho’s late long-range effort was tipped over the bar by Romero.
-KWESE.ESPN.COM
