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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
JOE KRISHNAN

Daniel James scores penalty shootout winner as Man Utd end pre-season unbeaten against AC Milan

Manchester United concluded their pre-season with an entertaining 5-4 penalty shootout victory over AC Milan after a 2-2 draw in Cardiff.

Marcus Rashford put United in front with a deflected strike after 13 minutes before former Liverpool winger Suso equalised with a fine effort from 20 yards.

Samu Castellejo's header put the Rossoneri in front but substitute Jesse Lingard came off the bench to equalise with 20 minutes to go.

With reports suggesting Harry Maguire's £80m transfer is done, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave Marcos Rojo and Victor Lindelof the chance to impress at the heart of the defence.

(AFP/Getty Images)

Rashford and Anthony Martial formed the two-man frontline and it was the former who took his chance when it arrived with 13 minutes on the clock.

The 21-year-old took on two defenders and cutting in from the left, he let fly with his shot. It took a fortunate deflection off Alessio Romagnoli en route to finding the back of the net, but Rashford didn't care as he celebrated his third goal of pre-season.

United struggled to build on their advantage and, after coming within inches of finding the top corner moments before, Suso curled a stunning left-footed shot past David De Gea from 20 yards.

De Gea had to be on hand to keep the score level, brilliantly tipping away to his right after Krczysztof Piatek's slight touch on the end of Suso's cross.

Solskjaer decided against making changes at the break and that appeared to be an error in judgement as Milan stepped things up.

Piatek should've scored after springing the offside trap but fired straight at De Gea.

Castellejo then headed the Rossoneri in front after another super delivery from Suso as the Spanish winger's effort deflected in off the back of Lindelof.

Solskjaer made five changes, including new signing Daniel James, but it was Lingard who made an immediate impact, slotting home on his left foot from a tight angle with 20 minutes remaining.

United pushed for a winner but couldn't find a way past Reina in the Milan goal as it went to penalties.

After a series of well-struck spot-kicks, it was Paolo Maldini's son Christian who had his penalty saved by De Gea.That left it to James, who planted his effort down the middle to seal a 5-4 win in the shootout.

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