Durban - Federico Macheda scored the only goal as Manchester United began their pre-season world tour with a 1-0 victory over AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Wednesday.
The only goal came after 20 minutes when the Italian was played in by Dimitar Berbatov on the left and finished powerfully with his right foot. Usuthu put up a brave showing in a match that marked the start of their 80th anniversary celebrations.
For Sir Alex Ferguson’s team, it marked an ideal start to their trip to South Africa, during which they will also face Premiership club Ajax Cape Town on Saturday.
They should have taken the lead inside the opening two minutes after a good build-up down the left with Berbatov playing in Macheda, whose attempt from just inside the box was parried away by Tapuwa Kapini.
Macheda was again in the mix after 14 minutes, but his shot was well blocked by Tsweu Mokoro on the left.
The hosts had to wait until the 18th minute for their first opening, which came when Mokoro burst down the right and squared to Goodman Dlamini on the edge of the box, although the finish was blazed over.
United then went in front after Berbatov played a neat through-ball to Macheda from the centre of the park, with the Italian finishing with a low shot beyond Kapini.
The home side could have hit back straight away, but were denied by the fingertips of Anders Lindegaard after Ayanda Dlamini tried to fire in at the near post from six metres out.
Berbatov almost produced a sublime finish at the other end with a classy 20m volley from a Robert Brady corner tipped over by Kapini.
Macheda also then dragged wide before the interval as the English club carried their narrow lead into the break.
After the restart, Marc van Heerden and Kapini both scampered off the line from Robert Brady and Berbatov, while an AmaZulu break ended with Ayanda Dlamini’s left-side shot excellently saved by Lindegaard.
Just before the hour-mark, Josef Lekata forced another good save from the Red Devils’ custodian with a downward header that was parried away.
The AmaZulu replacement should have hit the target moments later but lifted over when he could hardly miss.
With the clock winding down, Davide Petrucci struck the ball against the crossbar as the visitors held on. - Sapa