Manchester United defeated Liverpool by a score of 3-1 at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami on Monday night in the final match of the 2014 International Champions Cup.
Liverpool took the early lead in the 14th minute as captain Steven Gerrard converted an early penalty, however United turned things around in the second half as Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata added two quick goals with Jesse Lingard scoring a third in the 88th minute securing United the victory as winners of the 2014 International Champions Cup.
United missed a marvelous chance early in the match as Ashley Young’s ball into the box was met by a wasted effort in front from Javier Hernandez who failed to convert in the 5th minute.
In the 13th minute an unnecessary challenge from Phil Jones brought down Raheem Sterling as a penalty was awarded to Liverpool with Gerrard calmly scoring to put the Reds up 1-0 in the 14th minute.
Although United would begin to apply some pressure it would be the Reds who would get the chance to go up another goal up as Philippe Coutinho smashed a stinging effort that was denied by David de Gea in the 24th minute.
United’s persistence would give them an opportunity to level the score when Rooney was brought down just outside the box by Gerrard, but the set piece was a wasted effort after the striker fired the shot straight at the Liverpool wall.
At the start of the second half Liverpool would come out attacking as Coutinho linked up with Sterling in the 50th minute for a chance to increase the lead however Sterling’s shot was deflected wide.
Liverpool’s quick start would be stunted just five minutes later as United completely turned things around after Rooney levelled things up with a brilliant side foot finish from a terrific cross delivered by Hernandez in the 55th minute.
Two minutes after Rooney’s equalizer, Mata would give United the lead after the Spaniard smashed a left footed shot past Simon Mignolet in the 57th minute.
Just after the hour mark a controversial moment occurred as a peculiar ball off the bar was tucked away by Rooney past a motionless Mignolet giving United a 3-1 lead, however after a quick discussion the officials called back the goal as the ball was deemed out of play.
United would continue to press Liverpool with youngster Lingard putting the Red Devils up 3-1 in the 88th minute ultimately securing Louis van Gaal his first trophy, albeit a preseason one, as manager of the Red Devils.
