Mason Mount made his highly anticipated debut for Manchester United in a preseason game against Leeds United. The match took place in Oslo and ended with a 2-0 victory for United. Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill scored the second-half goals that secured the win for Erik ten Hag’s team. Emeran, a 20-year-old France youth international, opened the scoring with a cool finish after receiving a pass from Isak Hansen-Aaroen. He then provided the assist for Hugill, who scored with a clinical first-time strike. Rhys Bennett also hit the woodwork in the closing seconds of the game.
United made several changes at halftime, including taking off Lisandro Martinez, who was making his first appearance since recovering from a metatarsal fracture. Raphael Varane captained the team in a solid defensive display. 20-year-old midfielder Hannibal Mejbri had a chance to score early on but was denied by the Leeds goalkeeper. Leeds struggled to threaten United’s goal, even with the introduction of Dan James and Patrick Bamford in the second half. Bamford did manage to score, but was ruled offside thanks to Brandon Williams’ alert positioning.
United’s next match is against Lyon on July 19, while Leeds will face Monaco on July 22. Mount’s debut for United was highly anticipated after his recent transfer from Chelsea. He had been sidelined with a pelvic injury since February but looked lively and impressive during his 45-minute performance. He had a free-kick and delivered a dangerous cross into the box. Mount was involved in several attacking moves and even attempted an audacious lob. Ten Hag emphasized the importance of signing Mount early in preseason so he could integrate into the team’s style of play. If he stays fit, Mount’s performance suggests that United’s investment in him will pay off.
Martinez’s return to the lineup was also noteworthy. The defender had missed 13 games due to a foot fracture at the end of the previous season. His presence provided stability to the defense, although there were still some nervy moments when Leeds managed to attack. Tom Heaton, who is now United’s backup goalkeeper following David de Gea’s departure, had a decent outing but was bailed out by Aaron Wan-Bissaka on one occasion. Jadon Sancho also had a solid performance.
Overall, United dominated the game and deserved their victory. Emeran and Hugill’s goals sealed the win and showcased the team’s attacking prowess. Kovar, who replaced Heaton in the second half, looked assured in goal. Leeds made efforts to score but were unable to break through United’s defense.
The match was closely followed by The Sporting News, who provided live updates, commentary, and highlights of the game. Both teams will continue their preseason preparations before their respective league campaigns begin.
