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Crewe 0 United XI 2

Pre-Season Friendly
Alexandra Stadium, Gresty Road

CREWE ALEXANDRA 0

MANCHESTER UTD XI 2
(Nani 11,58)

29/07/2013 21:18, Report by Adam Marshall

Nani marked his comeback with both goals as a Manchester United XI ran out 2-0 victors at Crewe Alexandra.

The Portuguese winger looked in fine shape as he joined fellow first-teamers Nemanja Vidic and Antonio Valencia in Warren Joyce's line-up.

After Mathias Pogba forced the first save out of Sam Johnstone, the Reds drew first blood. Nani was fouled but dusted himself down to smash a free-kick from a central area past Alan Martin, who barely moved as it flew with unerring accuracy into the net.

At the other end, Vidic made a couple of important clearances and interceptions while Valencia was involved in a move that led to Nani's neat pass releasing Scott Wootton, with the right-back hammering his shot wide. Byron Moore cracked an attempt off target as the 5,077-strong crowd, containing 952 noisy away fans, enjoyed the first-half action.

Davide Petrucci tested Martin's reflexes with a stinging drive while Moore really should have scored when passing up a clear opportunity when the ball rebounded to him off Johnstone. The United keeper watched as Michael West's ambitious long-ranger clipped the bar and Wootton had to be alert to block a Jon Guthrie shot.

But United always carried the greater threat and, after Nani failed to get enough power in one attempt, he ran onto a flick by Tom Lawrence to shrug off a challenge that could have resulted in a penalty, kept his balance and composure and nonchalantly steered a calm finish wide of Martin for his second of the game.

Vidic was withdrawn after more than an hour and Nani followed afterwards but Valencia stayed on for the entire duration. Bebe, Nani's replacement, bounced a speculative drive at Martin and Petrucci bent a decent effort just wide. Federico Macheda then curled off target following a clever backheel by the lively Lawrence and Bebe produced the final effort as United ran out comfortable winners.

United: Johnstone; Wootton, Thorpe (Grimshaw 70), Vidic (Pearson 62), Vermijl; Valencia, Lawrence (Rothwell 76), Cole, Petrucci, Nani (Bebe 65); Macheda. Subs not used: Gollini, Barmby, Wilson.