Despite the goalless scoreline, the match was an entertaining one with Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal trying out a number of different players and approaches.
Juan Mata and Ander Herrera enjoyed strong performances in the center of midfield while Inter Milan’s Fredy Guarin nearly won the match for his side after coming on as a substitute. In the end the goalless draw was settled in penalties where Darren Fletcher scored the winner after Marco Andreolli put his effort off the cross bar.
Van Gaal lined up United in his fabled 3-5-2 formation meaning Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young were wingbacks, no doubt a first for the latter. Early on United possessed the ball well despite Inter packing the midfield with a 5-4-1 formation. Mata looked lively for United and in the 37th minute helped manufacture a decent chance through Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck that was cut out before a shot could be hit. Three minutes later and it was the Spaniard again looking dangerous, with a drilled shot fizzing just wide.
In the second half van Gaal made nine substitutions, including new boy Luke Shaw, who had recently been criticized by his manager for poor fitness. Things remained tight in the midfield and United enjoyed a few flashes from Wilfried Zaha and Nani, on for Rooney and Welbeck as the two strikers. In the 71st minute, Young and Nani combined down the right side and found and Tom Cleverley on the cross but his shot went well over the bar. In the 85th minute it was Inter substitute Guarin who came close to breaking the deadlock when his screamer of a free kick from 25 yards out was tipped over the bar by substitute goalkeeper David De Gea.
With the 0-0 draw at the final whistle it was off to penalties where Young, Javier Hernandez, Cleverley and Shinji Kagawa scored for United while Guarin, Yann M’Villa and Saphir Taider found the back of the net for Inter before Andreolli missed and Fletcher banged home the winner.
Other Premier League Results From Tuesday
Exeter City 0-2 Swansea City
Leyton Orient 2-2 Queens Park Rangers
Recreativo Huelva 0-1 Sunderland
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