• Pre-Season

Van Gaal off to a flying start

ESPN staff
July 24, 2014
Ander Herrera impressed on his Manchester United debut, while Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck were on the scoresheet © Getty Images
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The Louis van Gaal era at Manchester United got off to a flying start, with United comprehensively beating LA Galaxy 7-0 at the Pasadena Rose Bowl on Wednesday night.

Danny Welbeck opened the scoring on 13 minutes, before a Wayne Rooney double had them cruising by the break.

Van Gaal made a host of changes at half-time, with Darren Fletcher and new signing Ander Herrera the only players to play more than 45 minutes. Two of those subs - Ashley Young and defender Reece James - joined in on the goal scoring action once play resumed, each bagging a brace.

New signing Bruno Zuculini's early goal for Manchester City inside three minutes set the defending Premier League champions on course for a 4-1 rout of MLS Cup holders Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park.

CJ Sapong equalised for the American side on the half-hour mark but an experimental City side proved too strong as goals from Dedryck Boyata, Aleksandar Kolarov and 17-year-old Nigerian Kelechi Iheanacho ensured that Manuel Pellegrini's side kicked off their US tour in style.

City will now turn their attentions to the International Champions Cup for three games in the next ten days: AC Milan on Sunday in Pittsburgh, Liverpool at Yankee Stadium on July 30 and Olympiakos on August 2 in Minneapolis' TCF Bank Stadium.

Fernando stamped his authority in his first game in a Manchester City shirt © Getty Images
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Andros Townsend scored in the 85th minute to give Tottenham a 3-2 victory over Toronto on Wednesday night, spoiling striker Jermain Defoe's first game against his old English team.

Erik Lamela scored twice for Tottenham in the first half, but Andrew Wiedeman and Canadian teenager Jordan Hamilton had second-half goals to pull Toronto even before a sell-out crowd of 22,591.

Lewis Holtby found Townsend for a shot that curled past Quillan Roberts for the winner.

In Boston, Marco Borriello scored in the 90th minute to give Roma a 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Fenway Park.

There were limited chances until Borriello volleyed in a corner from in front of goal. It was Roma's second win in as many years against Liverpool at the home of the Boston Red Sox, whose owner John Henry is also the controlling partner of the Reds' Fenway Sports Group.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said: "It was a great atmosphere. The support was great. I think it was for both - fantastic. For a pre-season game, it was a very, very good game."

The Columbus Crew held Crystal Palace to a 2-2 draw in Ohio.

The MLS side took an early lead through Adan Bedlell's header, but Palace equalised when Glenn Murray scored shortly after half-time. Jake Gray then gave the visitors the lead before Daniel Paladini tied it up for the Crew.

In Austria, Jeremie Boga scored six minutes from time as Chelsea salvaged a 1-1 draw against WAC RZ Pellets.

Felipe Luis saw his first action in a Chelsea shirt as the Blues started with a strong defence of Luis, Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry and Kurt Zouma with Petr Cech in goal, while experimenting with youth up front.

Chelsea conceded when De Oliveira Silvio put a ball on the underside of the bar. The referee waved to play on but the linesman gave the goal.

West Ham's first match in New Zealand ended in a 2-1 defeat to Wellington Phoenix.

New signings Aaron Cresswell and Cheikhou Kouyate debuted, and Mauro Zarate scored for the Hammers but goals from Andrew Durante and Alex Gorrin were enough to give Wellington the victory.

Closer to home, Hull City got second-half goals from Sone Aluko and Yannick Sagbo to win at York City of League Two, while Sunderland scored all their goals in the second half to beat Hartlepool United 3-0 for their second win in two days. Carl Lawson opened the scoring and an Andrew Cartwright brace sealed proceedings.

Liverpool began life after Luis Suarez with defeat to Roma © Getty Images
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