San Jose Earthquakes, Manchester United play out goalless draw

Manchester United continued their preparations for the 2018-19 season with a goalless draw against San Jose Earthquakes at the Levi’s Stadium in California.

The headline team news for United saw Alexis Sanchez named in the XI. The Chilean had to wait for a visa before being allowed to link up with his teammates in the United States, but that occurred on Thursday, and he started on Sunday night.

There was a first-team debut for 17-year-old midfielder James Garner, while Tahith Chong was rewarded for an impressive cameo against Club America with a spot in the side.

As for San Jose, Quincy Amarikwa was joined by Danny Hoesen – the club’s top scorer this season – in the final third of the field, while there was a spot in midfield for Chris Wehan.

United had a huge chance to take the lead in the fourth minute when Eric Bailly met a free kick from Sanchez, but the centre-back somehow bundled the ball against the crossbar from close range.

The Red Devils continued to dominate the ball as the first period developed, but clear opportunities were few and far between.

Luke Shaw struck into the ground and over the crossbar just before the half-hour mark before Sanchez whistled a free kick wide of the post, but San Jose were fairly comfortable as the score stayed level.

The home team’s best chance of the first half came in the 34th minute when Joel Qviberg struck from distance, but United goalkeeper Joel Pereira was on hand to make the save.

Hoesen also had an attempt on target five minutes before the break, but it was very comfortable for Pereira.

Shaw and Andreas Pereira both had efforts for United in the early stages of the second period, but neither tested American goalkeeper Matt Bersano, who was one of 11 changes for San Jose at the break.

Axel Tuanzebe was one of United’s five changes at the interval, and the centre-back did brilliantly to clear a goal-bound attempt from Valeri Qazaishvili off the line just before the hour.

Sanchez left the field in the 65th minute, and 16-year-old Mason Greenwood was again given a run-out by Jose Mourinho.

Another United substitute Lee Grant was called into action to keep out a fine Tommy Thompson strike 20 minutes from time as San Jose continued to have their moments in the final third of the field.

Scott McTominay had a super chance from a Greenwood cross in the 78th minute, but the midfielder headed wide of the post from close range, before Yeferson Quintara hit the crossbar with a header down the other end.

Both teams continued to have their share of the ball as the match approached its conclusion, but neither could find the back of the net as a relatively uneventful match in California finished level.

Next up for United is a clash with AC Milan in the International Champions Cup on Wednesday, while San Jose will resume their MLS season at home to Seattle Sounders on the same night.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FIRST HALF XI: Marcinkowski, Qwiberg, Cummings, Kashia, Lima, Hyka, Felipe, Jungwirth, Wehan, Amrikwa, Hoesen

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES SECOND HALF XI: Bersano, Eriksson (Fuentes 86′), Yueill (Calvillo 78′), Salinas, Affolter (Ockford 78′), Wondolowski, Qazaishvili, Marie, Godoy, Quintara, Thompson (Akanyirige 90′)

MANCHESTER UNITED: J.Pereira (Grant 46′); Valencia (Darmian 7′), Bailly (Tuanzebe 46′), Smalling (Fosu-Mensah 46′), Shaw (Mitchell 76′); Herrera, Garner (McTominay 46′), A.Pereira (Gomes 83′); Chong (Mata 46′), Martial, Sanchez (Greenwood 65′)