Manchester United were held to a draw by Leeds in a lively pre-season friendly, with Brenden Aaronson’s equaliser cancelling out Joshua Zirkzee’s opener in the first half.
United took the lead on 16 minutes when Zirkzee took a well-placed finish into the bottom corner after Bryan Mbeumo had released him on the counter-attack.
The Belgian had earlier forced a smart stop from James Trafford, and United looked sharp in the first half with Amad Diallo and Patrick Dorgu causing problems down the flanks.
Leeds hit back on 29 minutes through Aaronson, who swept a right-footed finish into the bottom left corner after Daniel James, one of several players auditioning for a place in the squad, pulled the ball back across goal.
It was a well-worked move and James was a lively presence throughout the first half, also going close with a long-range effort on 43 minutes.
Second-half changes kill momentum
Both managers used half-time to completely overhaul their sides, with United introducing Bruno Fernandes, Noussair Mazraoui, Youri Tielemans and Luke Shaw among seven changes, while Leeds made eight substitutions of their own.
The second half was an even, if scrappy, affair. United’s fresh legs improved their threat going forward and Fernandes came closest to a winner, striking the crossbar from outside the box on 85 minutes when it seemed easier to score.
Jack Fletcher also headed narrowly wide in stoppage time after being picked out by Mazraoui.
Leeds had chances of their own, with James Justin forcing a sharp save from substitute goalkeeper Dermot Mee on 78 minutes before Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed narrowly wide late on.
A standard pre-season penalty shootout followed, with Fernandes missing his spot-kick, but was spared his blushes after Harry Wilson and James Justin could not find the net from 12 yards.
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