Marcus Rashford struck twice as Manchester United’s pre-season tour got off to a comfortable start, with Romelu Lukaku and Victor Lindelof making their first appearances in a comprehensive defeat of the Los Angeles Galaxy.
After five gruelling days of double-sessions in the Californian sunshine, Saturday evening brought the chance to blow away the cobwebs at a sold-out StubHub Center.
David Beckham was among those in attendance on a night that United bossed from the outset. Mourinho named a different line-up in each half, with Marouane Fellaini complementing a Rashford brace in the first period before Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial scored in a 5-2 friendly win.
Giovani dos Santos scored two late consolation goals but that could not take the gloss off a promising start to pre-season against a Galaxy side in the midst of a testing Major League Soccer campaign.
Mourinho interestingly plumped for a three-man defence in Carson, where this run-of-the-mill friendly came with a dollop of American razzmatazz.
Fireworks were followed by ticker tape at the kick-off – paper that was still floating to the ground when Jesse Lingard snatched possession, allowing Rashford to finish smartly after 115 seconds.
š¹ | Rashford's neat finish to give United a 1-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/vryiLutFAa
— Man Utd Stuff (@ManUtdStuff) July 16, 2017
There was no let up as Rashford had another attempt and Juan Mata tried an unorthodox effort, before the pair combined for a 20th-minute goal.
The Spain international played through the sharp-looking striker, who showed no little composure and skill to slot past Jon Kempin.
The Galaxy’s second-string were being toyed with and Fellaini soon got in on the act, firing home after a smart cutback from Lingard.
Fellaini gets the 3rd goal finishing it off with a dab šš²š³š±3-0 Man U over LA Galaxy #ManUTour2017 pic.twitter.com/8YXnUmcmtz
— Nino (@Nino_416) July 16, 2017
Chris Smalling was ruled offside after tapping home just before the break, which Rashford would have entered with the match ball secure had he not wasted a one-on-one.
An entirely new line-up trotted out for the second half, including summer signings Lukaku and Lindelof.
The latter had two early attempts but the Galaxy’s half-time changes strengthened them markedly, with Ashley Cole among those brought on – a change welcomed by jeers from those clad in red.
United again began to turn the screw, though, and Mkhitaryan swept home a Martial pass in the 67th minute.
It was five soon after as Paul Pogba played a lovely ball to Tim Fosu-Mensah, whose cutback was turned home by Martial.
Dos Santos netted two late goals – cutting all too easily past Lindelof for the first before a fortunate deflection – as the pre-season tour got off to a straightforward start.
Provided by Press Association Sport