Man Utd 1-1 Athletic Club: Player ratings as young Red Devils draw last summer friendly
- Nico Williams netted winner for Athletic Club in first half
- Harry Maguire mistake led to United going behind in Dublin
- Young side aided by some veterans couldn't find equaliser
A young Manchester United side secured a late draw as Facundo Pellistri struck in the 93rd minute against ten-player Athletic Club in Dublin on Sunday afternoon.
A mistake from Harry Maguire saw Athletic turn over possession and open the scoring through Nico Williams, who raced through the middle and finished well in the first half
However, Pellistri levelled things up with a half-volley from Maguire's header.
Manager Erik ten Hag unsurprisingly made wholesale changes from the XI that beat Lens 3-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday, with starts handed to Maguire, Christian Eriksen, Donny van de Beek and Jadon Sancho among others.
Sancho was in on goal inside three minutes having been played through by Pellistri but couldn't convert, seeing his effort hit Unai Simon's outstretched leg.
Maguire's first moment of hesitation nearly cost United in the tenth minute, failing to effectively clear Oihan Sancet's cross before Inaki Williams's header was smothered by Tom Heaton.
Athletic began finding rhythm against United's youngsters and fringe players as Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta missed comfortably from range. The Red Devils did show a threat of their own as Facundo Pellistri burst into the box and went down under the challenge of Dani Vivian, but his appeal for a penalty was ignored.
It was the La Liga side who struck first in painful and familiar fashion for United fans. Maguire gifted the ball straight to Sancet who slipped in Nico Williams, whose prodded effort hit Heaton and spun into the far corner.
De Galarreta eventually picked up a booking for one heavy challenge to many as Victor Lindelof headed as Simon from Eriksen's corner as the rain started heaving down at the Aviva Stadium.
Young defender Gore went close from Eriksen's set-up, drawing another save from Simon, before the radar-less De Galarreta sent another strike whistling over the bar.
Ten Hag's young outfit were given a player advantage midway through the second half as Aitor Paredes pulled back substitute Hannibal Mejbri when he was clean through on goal and was sent off.
It eventually paid off late on. Aaron Wan-Bissaka's long punt forward was met by Maguire, who headed it down to Pellistri to equalise in the 93rd minute.
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Manchester United player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Tom Heaton - 6/10 - Played sweeper-keeper on occasion ala Onana. Nearly denied Williams' strike
RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 6/10 - Picked out Maguire for the goal late on, but might not have made Ten Hag's choice at right-back any clearer.
CB: Harry Maguire - 4/10 - Again showed his sloppiness in defence and decent application in the attacking third.
CB: Victor Lindelof - 6/10 - Comfortable on the left on defence and strode forward with intent.
LB: Alvaro Fernandez - 6/10 - Couple of inviting passes forward but also nearly gave away a silly penalty.
CM: Daniel Gore - 6/10 - Energetic and enthusiastic, putting himself into plenty of challenges.
CM: Christian Eriksen - 6/10 - Still struggling to muster up the form he displayed at the start of the last season.
RW: Facundo Pellistri - 8/10 - Showed some incisive passing and was United's brightest spark in the second half, eventually equalising.
AM: Donny van de Beek - 3/10 - The first player to be hooked on the afternoon, failing to impact proceedings whatsoever.
LW: Omari Forson - 5/10 - Not too threatening before his withdrawal.
ST: Jadon Sancho - 6/10 - Good chance early on but couldn't convert. Good interplay with his attacking colleagues before coming off.
Substitutes
Hannibal Mejbri (45' for Van de Beek) - 7/10 - Bright run resulted in Parades hauling him down and being sent off.
Jonny Evans (64' for Fernandez) - 5/10
Joe Hugill (64' for Sancho) - 5/10
Noam Emeran (80' for Gore) - N/A
Subs not used: Toby Collyer, , Marc Jurado, Matej Kovar, Tom Wooster.
Manager
Erik ten Hag - 6/10 - Rotated the squad over the weekend to get everyone games and managed to come through the two clashes without a defeat.