Manchester United concluded their U.S. tour with a 2-2 draw against Everton in an entertaining clash at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Ruben Amorim’s side took the lead after 19 minutes when Bruno Fernandes calmly slotted home a penalty, awarded after James Tarkowski brought down Amad Diallo in the box.
Everton equalised five minutes before half-time, with Iliman Ndiaye finishing clinically at the back post following a pinpoint cross from Idrissa Gueye.
Mason Mount restored United’s advantage in the 69th minute, showing composure to turn and fire past Jordan Pickford after a sharp move inside the box.
However, the lead didn’t last long. A bizarre own goal from Amad Diallo gifted Everton a second equaliser, ensuring a dramatic end to the contest. Despite the draw, United were crowned Premier League Summer Series champions.
Mail Sport’s Chris Wheeler was in Atlanta to reveal things we learned from the match.
Manchester United concluded their U.S. tour with a 2-2 draw against Everton in Atlanta
Despite the draw, Ruben Amorim’s side were crowned Premier League Summer Series winners
MBUEMO IMPRESSES
THE build-up to Bryan Mbeumo’s debut for Manchester United in the 2-2 draw with Everton was overshadowed by the club’s pursuit of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko and uncertainty over Rasmus Hojlund’s future at Old Trafford, but the £71millon striker made a good first impression as he played the first 45 minutes at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Playing on the right side of a front three that had United’s other new-boy Matheus Cunha starting through the middle and Bruno Fernandes on the left, Mbeumo linked up well with his two teammates and had some bright moments, notably the blind pass that released Amad Diallo when he won a penalty that was converted by Fernandes in the 19th minute.
It will be interesting to see how Ruben Amorim deploys his assortment of No.10 players – which also includes Mason Mount – if he signs a new striker or Hojlund stays at the club. The Dane got on in the 72nd minute.
Diallo is another who can play as a No.10 but he started in his alternative right wing-back role in Atlanta and benefitted from the work of the front three, emerging as arguably United’s brightest player in the first period. The game was less than four minutes only when Fernandes released the Ivorian who slipped in Cunha but his effort was wide of the far post.
Debutant Bryabn Mbeumo made a good first impression as he played the first 45 minutes
Mbeumo’s debut had been was overshadowed by the club’s pursuit of Benjamin Sesko
James Tarkowski was furious when Diallo got on the end of a slick move by Fernandes, Mbeumo and Cunha to win the penalty, and the United man then brought a clumsy challenge from Vitalii Mykolenko when he pirouetted cheekily away from the Ukrainian shortly afterwards.
Although United lacked a conventional centre-forward, there was a fluidity to their attack not dissimilar to what Sir Alex Ferguson achieved with Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo when taking his team to Champions League glory in 2008 – although clearly this United have some way to go to reach that level.
Mbeumo went off at half-time with Diallo reverting to a more advanced role, as Patrick Dorgu came on at left wing-back and Diogo Dalot switched to the right.
Mount came on in the 59th minute to play wide on the right with Fernandes dropping deeper, and he scored United’s second goal when Fernandes slipped a pass inside and he curled an excellent shot beyond Jordan Pickford.
MIDFIELD LACKS PACE
There have been some concerns about the lack of pace in United’s midfield and it was highlighted again when Everton grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 40th minute in Atlanta.
It appeared as though Amorim’s side had cleared the danger when Matthijs de Ligt played the ball out to Manuel Ugarte on the edge of his own box, but the Uruguayan was sluggish and James Tarkowski stole in to rob the ball.
There have been some concerns about the lack of pace in United’s midfield and it was highlighted again
Idrissa Gueye showed quick thinking to play a first-time cross towards the back post where Iliman Ndiaye reacted quicker than Bruno Fernandes to score with a clinical finish.
United’s other options in central midfield are 33-year-old veteran Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo, and Amorim raised concerns over Mainoo’s pace earlier in the tour. It highlights why United are considering signing a quicker No.6 before the end of the transfer window to inject a more speed into their midfield.
Another option, of course, is Fernandes who dropped deeper for the final quarter of the game in Atlanta and got an assist on the second goal for Mount.
KEEPER QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED
The other area of the team United are looking at is a new goalkeeper amid question marks over Andre Onana’s future at Old Trafford.
The expectation is that the Cameroon international will stay and start, but United quoted Monaco £30m to sign Onana early in the window and they have made enquiries about Emi Martinez of Aston Villa and PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma.
With Onana missing all the tour games due to a hamstring injury suffered on only the second day of pre-season training at Carrington, this was a chance for his No.2 Altay Bayindir to shine and it’s fair to say the Turk didn’t take his opportunity.
Bayindir almost paid for an error in the seventh minute when he got down to save James Garner’s 20-yard free kick but bundled the ball straight to Jake O’Brien who should have done better than guide it against the far post with the goal gaping.
No.2 Altay Bayindir had a chance to shine and it’s fair to say he didn’t take his opportunity
O’Brien then headed wide just before half-time, denying Everton the lead their first-half performance probably deserved.
There was also a close call when Tim Iroegbunam raced through and touched the ball past a hesitant Bayindir to score but, luckily for the United keeper, he was just offside.
Bayindir couldn’t be faulted for Ndiaye’s well-taken equaliser shortly afterwards, but the second goal was a mess as Diallo played the ball against Ayden Heaven and it trickled past a statuesque Bayindir as United conceded an own-goal for the second game in a row to draw with an Everton side who had lost their previous two games on tour.
FEISTY FRIENDLY
One of the benefits of playing in a Premier League Summer Series is the level of competition against old rivals is that bit keener than other tour games.
United have played well to beat West Ham and Bournemouth in the US, but they came up against a feisty Everton in the last match in Atlanta.
The Red Devils came up against a feisty Everton in the last match in Atlanta
James Tarkowski gave Amad Diallo an earbashing after the Ivorian won a penalty in the first half, and there was a furious exchange in the build-up to Everton’s second equaliser when Bruno Fernandes and Iliman Ndiaye clashed on the halfway line.
Fernandes pursued the Everton man and appeared to clip him from behind, leading to an angry shoving match between them as play continued and the ball went in off Ayden Heaven.
Ruben Amorim would probably rather have a game like this to test his players at this stage of pre-season, with United facing Arsenal in their Premier League opener in two weeks’ time.
