Hit the target

By Chris,
July 28 2009

Manchester United twice came from behind to secure a 3-2 pre-season victory over FC Seoul at the World Cup Stadium on Friday. Goals from Wayne Rooney, Federico Macheda and Dimitar Berbatov proved enough for the Red Devils.

The Reds' defending was slack and perhaps a little complacent and FC Seoul took advantage with the opening goal of the game on 24 minutes. Wesley Brown and John O'Shea failed to pick up Dejan Damjanovic's forward run as the striker drilled home a fine floating cross from the right-flank.

United, thankfully, fought back only nine minutes later as Wayne Rooney met John O'Shea's cross with a powerful header to restore parity.

Seoul, however, delighted home fans again on the stroke of half-time by recapturing the lead. United were again sloppy at the back and Patrice Evra looked lethargic in chasing back Damjanovic beat the offside trap and fired a cool and confident chip over Tomasz Kuszczak to seal his brace.

The tourists turned the friendly on its head after half-time - with Rooney and Macheda linking up beautifully for the equalizer. The England forward's long-ball was inch perfect and United's young 17-year-old prodigy latched onto the pass, rounded the ‘keeper and finished well.

The winner came soon after with Berbatov's wonderful header separating the two sides. Darron Gibson's cross found the Bulgarian and he nodded home a beautiful effort as United took the lead for the first time.

Most of the pre-match local headlines were taken by Seoul-born Ji-Sung Park's homecoming - but the 28-year-old didn't enter the fray until the closing stages as United held out for a narrow victory following an excellent pre-season warm-up.

Full Time - FC Seoul 2-3 Manchester United
Attendance - 64,000