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TOKYO July 17 - Manchester United were held to a
2-2 draw by J-League champions Urawa Reds in a friendly match at
Saitama Stadium on Tuesday.
United scored through Darren Fletcher and Cristiano Ronaldo,
with Urawa getting goals from Hideki Uchidate and Shinji Ono.
Fielding virtually their first-team line-up, United started
off the game at a leisurely pace, content just to stroke the
ball around the pitch.
After Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick failed to find the
target with early efforts, Ronaldo brought the 58,716 fans to
their feet in the 24th minute with a cracking, 20-metre shot
that Urawa keeper Ryota Tsuzuki did well to palm away.
A minute later, United found themselves 1-0 down when
Uchidate fired off a speculative shot from 25 metres that
wrong-footed Edwin van der Saar in the United goal.
In the dying minutes of the first half, Rooney burst into
life, first setting up a free header for Paul Scholes, then
running 50 metres through the Reds defence, before firing off a
low shot that was also saved by Tsuzuki.
United drew level in the second minute of the second half
when Michael Carrick set up Fletcher for a low drive from 10
metres.
After a Rooney cracker that just cleared the bar, United
took the lead in the 52nd minute.
Giggs released Ronaldo on the left and the Portuguese player
cut in and finished off the move with a crisp, low drive from 20
metres.
GOOD TEST
The home side kept attacking and were rewarded for some
enterprising play with an equaliser in the 78th minute.
Brazilian Robson Ponte linked up with Makoto Hasebe on the
edge of the box to set up former Feyenoord midfielder Ono, who
dummied to his left and then slid the ball past Van der Saar to
make the score 2-2.
"We considered tonight's game a good test for us and a good
test for Urawa Reds and it was a fair result," United boss Alex
Ferguson said.
"In the second half, we obviously tired a little but I think
it was an entertaining match."
Ferguson said he was looking to assess the early progress of
his players.
"I always look at if the enthusiasm is still there, is the
desire there, are they enjoying their football -- and I think
they are. I think we've further evidence that there's no
regression in the side and we're making good progress."
Ferguson did not field new signings Owen Hargreaves and Nani
but said he expected them to be available in time for United's
matches in China on July 23 and 27.