Wayne Rooney got on the scoresheet as Manchester United scored a morale-boosting 3-1 friendly victory over European champion Barcelona here on Saturday.
Rooney, Jesse Lingard and Adnan Januzaj got United’s goals to settle an entertaining game in front of 68,416 fans at the Levi’s Stadium, home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.
Rafinha scored a late consolation for Barcelona in the 90th minute, lashing home a shot before Januzaj netted United’s third just 30 seconds later.
Barcelona, missing superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar after its exertion in the Copa America, was left ruing a series of chances which hit the woodwork.
Barcelona could have been 2-0 up within the opening minutes, Luis Suarez crashing a free-kick off the post after only four minutes with United goalkeeper David De Gea beaten. Moments later De Gea was pressed into action when Sergi Roberto burst through only to shoot directly at the United keeper with the goal at his mercy.
United made Barcelona pay for its early profligacy in the seventh minute when Rooney headed the Red Devils into the lead, punishing slack marking to power Ashley Young’s corner into the net past Marc Andre Ter Stegen. The goal boosted United and it grew in confidence, with Memphis Depay’s movement and interplay again catching the eye for United.
United might have added to its lead in the 25th minute when good work by Juan Mata down the right flank saw Rooney go clear in the box, rounding Ter Stegen but just unable to cut back to United’s attack.
United rang the changes on 63 minutes, removing its entire starting XI as van Gaal indicated he would do before the match.
The change yielded instant results, with Tyler Blackett crossing low from the left for Lingard to tuck away the finish for 2-0.
Chelsea tops PSG Meanwhile, Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made the difference on Saturday, making two shoot-out saves and firing home the winner as the Blues downed Paris Saint Germain 6-5 on penalties in a friendly.
Rampant Arsenal Arsenal made a stylish start to its Emirates Cup campaign as four goals in nine minutes inspired a scintillating 6-0 rout of Lyon at the Emirates Stadium.
Olivier Giroud opened the scoring on the half-hour before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain doubled the lead. Alex Iwobi and Aaron Ramsey continued the goal spree, with Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla netting after half-time to cap a swaggering Arsenal display that suggested it is already approaching peak form with its Premier League opener against West Ham still two weeks away.
The results:
At Santa Clara: Barcelona 1 (Rafinha 90) lost to Manchester United 3 (Rooney 7, Lingard 65, Januzaj 91).
At Charlotte: Paris St. Germain 1 (Ibrahimovic 25) lost to Chelsea 1 (Moses 65) (Chelsea wins 6-5 on penalties).
At London: Arsenal 6 (Olivier Giroud 29, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 34, Alex Iwobi 35, Aaron Ramsey 38, Mesut Ozil 62, Santi Cazorla 85) bt Lyon 0.
Villarreal 2 (Mario Gaspar 8, Matias Nahuel Leiva 17) bt Wolfsburg 1 (Ivan Perisic 10).
