Manchester United took a 2-0 lead into the locker room of the Manchester Derby in Houston tonight. Here’s the link to our takeaways from the first half. Although it’s just a preseason friendly exhibition, it is still the first Manchester Derby held outside England, and finally the manifestation of the match that was supposed to happen a year ago at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing.
-After an atrocious first half, Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson settled down in the second. It’s his chance now to really make his mark and be the all-encompassing #1 at a giant club. Claudio Bravo failed to truly impress and Joe Hart is now gone for good, jettisoned to West Ham United.
-When it comes to Drake and sports team loyalty, well what did you expect? The rapper is “consistently inconsistent.” Or you could say that he’s #ACityUnited all by himself.
Peak @Drake loyalty. #ManchesterDerby pic.twitter.com/MRStAKr7Yz
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) July 21, 2017
-Romelu Lukaku scored his second goal in as many starts, and now has two scoring strikes in three halves of play as a member of the Red Devils. Jose Mourinho said after the game: “I couldn’t be happier with what he’s doing.” Following the 5-2 win at L.A. Galaxy, Mourinho said that this season would occasionally see Lukaku and Marcus Rashford featured at the same time.
Tonight in the first half was one of those times, and it provided all the scoring in this one. Just like the 2-1 win at Real Salt Lake on Monday night, all the action transpired in the first half; preceding a quieter second 45 minutes.
-United definitely had a decided crowd advantage in terms of the 65, 401 supporters on hand in Houston.
Manchester derby, Houston. pic.twitter.com/bR6GoKkwJ6
— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) July 21, 2017
-The “play that needs to have ‘Yakety Sax’ playing in the background” goes to this sequence
Best moment of the first half came from Chris Smalling with an exquisitely deft back header to De Gea. Delightful pic.twitter.com/f8yEMNRO3f
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) July 21, 2017
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV.
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