United thrash Galaxy 7-0 to give van Gaal perfect start
Louis van Gaal's Manchester United reign got off to the perfect start with a 7-0 demolition of the Los Angeles Galaxy this morning (July 24, Singapore time) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
New signings Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera were both handed starts by the Dutchman as he went with a 3-4-3 formation against the Galaxy, featuring former Spurs and Liverpool man Robbie Keane.
Striker Danny Welbeck fired the Red Devils into a 13th-minute lead with an unerring shot from 23 metres after he was set up by club record signing Juan Mata.
Wayne Rooney then added two more with a 42nd-minute penalty after AJ Delagarza handled an Antonio Valencia cross before bundling home from close range on the second attempt on the stroke of half-time.
Sticking to his promise to give the United team a fair chance to prove themselves, van Gaal made a wholesale change as he brought on nine players after the break.
Among the substitutes was youngster Reece James, who made it 4-0 on 62 minutes as he rifled a low drive into the bottom corner off an Ashley Young cut-back.
The 20-year-old left-back then made it a brace as he pounced on a rebound from a saved Young shot to fire home United's fifth in the 84th minute.
Then it was Young's turn to get on the scoresheet as he rounded the keeper four minutes later to scoop home after receiving a through ball from Herrera, who impressed as he pulled the strings for the Red Devils in midfield.
The pair then combined again in the 90th minute to cap the scoring, with Herrera sliding Young through the Galaxy defence to make it seven.
The result left van Gaal purring as he said: "The result always matters. With such a result you get confidence.
"It is fantastic how they have performed today.
"When you see us train, you can expect something but not 7-0. It was a surprise, but they were beautiful goals and beautiful attacks."
Sources: YouTube, AFP, PA Sport
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