Match report: Rosenborg 1 United 0

Monday 15 July 2024 19:00

Manchester United got the 2024/25 pre-season campaign under way as we were beaten 1-0 by Rosenborg in Trondheim, Norway.

Erik ten Hag selected a different outfield line-up for each half at the Lerkendal Stadium, with 21 players in total getting valuable minutes in their legs after the summer.

Radek Vitek was the star performer for the Reds, as he made a multitude of spectacular saves to prevent the home side scoring, before Noah Holm cruelly struck with virtually the last kick of the game.

Ethan Wheatley and Ethan Ennis had the best opportunities for United, while the likes of Casemiro, Mason Mount and Marcus Rashford were afforded time on the pitch seven weeks on from the Emirates FA Cup final.

FIRST HALF – VITEK KEEPS ROSENBORG AT BAY

With a significant number of players, including new signing Joshua Zirkzee, still recovering from their tournament excursions, and others continuing recovery work at Carrington, Erik ten Hag named a starting XI featuring a blend of youth and experience, led by captain Casemiro.

New coaching staff Rene Hake, Jelle ten Rouwelaar and Ruud van Nistelrooy provided a fresh look to the United dugout, while the players were also wearing the adidas 2024/25 home kit – sponsored by Snapdragon – for the first time since its early July unveiling.

The Norwegian outfit have been in regular action, having started their domestic season in April, and they began the contest the brighter of the two sides, as Mikkel Ceide headed an early chance from a corner over the bar.

Rosenborg then had the ball in the net through Ole Saeter, but the offside flag was raised by the linesman and subsequent replays showed that our opponents’ no.9 had started his run a touch too early.

After Tomas Nemcik was booked for a robust challenge on Casemiro, Marius Broholm clipped the post with his effort from the right-hand side of the penalty area, while goalkeeper Vitek was required to make two saves in a matter of seconds, first from Broholm and then via a Will Fish deflection.

Wheatley then had United’s only sighter of the half, letting fly from the edge of the box on 39 minutes and testing the reflexes of the previously untroubled Sander Tangvik.

But a fit and physical Rosenborg soon reasserted themselves and Vitek had to be on hand again to deny Sverre Nypan with a remarkable one-handed stop, just moments after Broholm had again struck the woodwork, as his lob rebounded back off the crossbar.

The Czech keeper capped a superb half personally when palming behind another Broholm strike, as the teams entered the break still deadlocked.

SECOND HALF – ERIK RINGS THE CHANGES

As is often the case with these pre-season games, Ten Hag opted to make a raft of substitutions at half-time, with only Vitek retaining his place in the side.

Toby Collyer, who recently signed a new contract with the Reds, was given the armband, while supporters were afforded the opportunity to see several youngsters in action, with United’s XI now having an average age of just over 18.

After a quiet beginning to the half, Rosenborg substitute Emil Frederiksen squandered an opening, when he smashed into the side netting after beating Harry Amass on the Reds’ left.

The home side made several alterations to the team themselves, as the game edged past the hour, but still they could not find a way past Vitek, who again stretched to tip a Tobias Borkeeiet drive on to the post.

Frederiksen added his name to the list of Rosenborg players to strike the woodwork, while Ennis stung the palms of Rasmus Sandberg after working a pocket of space on the edge of the area in a rare Reds foray forward.

Much of the last 20 minutes passed without incident, but there was still time for Vitek to make yet another save, when Magnus Holte smacked a close-range shot straight at the Czech.

Just as it looked as though United would keep a clean sheet, Vitek was finally beaten as Holm capitalised on an unfortunate rebound to stick home.

The Reds will nevertheless benefit from the experience ahead of the second game of pre-season, when we take on Rangers in Edinburgh on Saturday.

LINE-UPS

First half: Vitek; Wan-Bissaka, Fish, Evans, Murray; Casemiro (c), Hannibal; Williams, Mount, Rashford; Wheatley.

Second half: Vitek; Ogunneye, Bennett, Aljofree, Amass; Collyer (c), Oyedele; Ennis, J. Fletcher, Scanlon; Hugill.

Unused substitutes: Harrison, Mee, Jackson, Mather.

Attendance: 21,013

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