Manchester United claimed a 2-0 victory over Manchester City in the first-ever derby on foreign soil as Tour 2017, presented by Aon, continued in winning fashion for the Reds.
Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford were once again in fine goalscoring form and their first-half strikes, in quick succession, were enough to seal derby bragging rights.
READ: AC MILAN UNVEILS £35.1M SIGNING LEONARDO BONUCCI
Jose Mourinho’s men were at it from the off with Ander Herrera taking aim early on, before further shots followed from outside the area as the Reds looked to test new City goalkeeper Ederson.
Jose Mourinho on @RomeluLukaku9: "I couldn't be happier with what he's doing."
Get more reaction on #MUTV: https://t.co/24a6Qh997V pic.twitter.com/Uz5VTwcq2u
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 21, 2017
David De Gea had to be alert at the other end too with Sterling twice being denied, before Chris Smalling made a fantastic double block from Patrick Roberts and Sterling again.
United made the breakthrough eight minutes from half-time as Lukaku latched on to a fine Paul Pogba through ball, beating Ederson to it, before finishing brilliantly from the tightest of angles.
Two minutes later, Rashford doubled the advantage, firing home after good work from Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Changes aplenty followed for both sides at the break but the Reds still kept up the pressure on City’s goal.
Rashford went for the spectacular, forcing Ederson to palm the ball over his crossbar. Lukaku headed wide from the corner and soon after smacked a shot against the woodwork.
The Reds survived a scare 14 minutes from the end when Romero got caught out of his goal as he came for a cross, but Phil Foden’s attempted lob sailed over the bar.
Second-half substitute Phil Jones was denied by an incredible triple save by Ederson from a corner late on, but by then the game was already won and derby bragging rights belonged to United.
THE LINE-UPS
United: De Gea (Romero 46), Valencia (c) (Fosu-Mensah 78), Lindelof (Bailly 46), Smalling (Jones 46), Blind (Darmian 46), Herrera (Fellaini 62), Pogba, Rashford (Martial 62), Mkhitaryan (Carrick 62), Lingard (A. Pereira 77), Lukaku.
Subs not used: J. Pereira, Mitchell, Tuanzebe, McTominay.
Booked: Blind
Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Adarabioyo (Mangala 46), Kompany (c) (Stones 46), Fernandinho, De Bruyne (Otamendi 46), Yaya Toure (Diaz 46), Sterling (Nasri 46), Roberts (Sane 46), Foden (Zinchenko 75), Aguero (Jesus 46).
Subs not used: Grimshaw, Stones, Reges, Gundogan, Silva, Denaye, Iheanacho, Kolarov.
Booked: Toure, Mangala
TALKING POINT – WHO WILL SCORE MORE?
Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford have started pre-season on fire and the question now is who will finish Tour 2017 as top scorer?
Lukaku opened the proceedings against City after his big mate Paul Pogba curled a sublime pass over the top for the Belgian whose pace, power and precision resulted in a second strike in two games.
Marcus Rashford looked equally as dangerous in attack and found the net just two minutes after Lukaku.
The young forward spoke before the game about the relationship he is hoping to form with the new signing as a strike partner and it certainly bodes well to see how well both have started pre-season.
