July 19, (THEWILL) – Manchester United emerged victorious in their Wednesday pre-season friendly, beating Lyon 1-0 at Murrayfield.
The match marked Donny van de Beek’s first appearance for the club since January, and he wasted no time making an impact. After missing the latter half of the previous season due to a knee injury, Van de Beek netted a superb volleyed winner only minutes after being brought on in the second half. The Red Devils continued their winning streak following their recent triumph over Leeds in Norway.
Erik ten Hag’s starting line-up included £60m signing, Mason Mount, who displayed his quality during his debut against Leeds. However, despite an early opportunity for Mount to score from a Jadon Sancho cut-back, Lyon’s goalkeeper, Anthony Lopes, denied him before keeping out both Antony and Amad Diallo, as the score remained level. The game’s tempo slowed down after a frenetic start, leading Ten Hag to make ten changes at half-time.
Among the introduced players was returning defender Jonny Evans, making his first appearance for Manchester United since 2015, following his recent short-term contract signing. Evans’ presence was instrumental in keeping Lyon’s chances at bay throughout the match. In goal for United was Matej Kovar, who performed commendably despite the impending signing of Andre Onana from Inter Milan. Kovar did not face a single shot on target, largely thanks to Ten Hag’s youthful side, which maintained a tight defensive grip in the second half.
Youngster Dan Gore proved to be a standout, providing the assist for Van de Beek’s decisive goal. Another young talent, Isak Hansen-Aaroen, nearly doubled the lead with a well-placed effort, drawing a fine save from Lyon’s substitute goalkeeper, Remy Riou. Ultimately, Van de Beek’s goal was sufficient to secure United’s second pre-season victory.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
