Manchester United Scrape Draw Against Cerezo

[Folami David]

A stoppage time goal from Wilfried Zaha saved Manchester United from the brink of a humiliating third defeat in their pre-season Asian tour Friday, drawing 2-2 with Cerezo Osaka at Shinji Kagawa's former J-League home.
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Kagawa, who moved to Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund a year ago, also delighted a sell-out crowd of 44,856 at the Nagai Stadium by scoring United's first goal minutes after fluffing a penalty by kicking straight into the hands of Osaka custodian Kim Jin- Hyeon.
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The Red Devils now have two wins and two defeats in Asia after losing to the Thai league all stars 1-0 two weeks ago in Bangkok, overwhelming the A-League All Stars in Sydney and again bowing to the J- League's Yokohama Marinos last Tuesday.
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Cerezo striker Kenyu Sugimoto opened the scoring on 34 minutes as he beat two defenders to slam a left-footer past Lindegaard after intercepting a pass by United's Chris Smalling.
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United nearly levelled in the 40th minute when Kagawa struck over after Dutch striker Robin van Persie fed him a sharp cross on a rebound from a Danny Welback shot off the left post.
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Kagawa bungled a penalty shot in the 53rd minute when Ashley Young was clipped down in the box by Cerezo defender Tatsuya Yamashita.
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But the 24-year-old Japanese quickly restored some pride by pulling one back for United two minutes later, slotting the ball through Kim's legs after trapping a deep left cross from Ryan Giggs.
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Minutes after Kagawa was substituted amid roars from his former home supporters, Cerezo surprised the English champions with their second goal through 18-year-old striker Takumi Minamino on 63 minutes.
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Minamino's shot from the left outside the area sailed into the top far side corner. But Zaha managed to redeem the visitors and save them from humilation by hitting a much needed equalizier one minute into stoppage time on a cross from Jesse Lingard.
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For the last match of their Asian tour the English champions will play Kitchee FC in Hong Kong on Monday and wind up their entire pre-season campaign with a friendly against Swedish outfit AIK Fotboll in Stockholm on August 6.
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United under David Moyers -- who was appointed as long-reigning Alex Ferguson's successor at the end of last season -- will open their title defence against Swansea City away on August 17.

[Shola Sholaz]

I congratulate them for not losing this time around....We need to get more strickers to boost our attacking power...We really need that.