UNITEDS CAN'T BE DIVIDED! Man Utd and Leeds play out pre-season friendly draw as Fernandes sends timely reminder - 5 talking points

Manchester United and Leeds couldn't be separated despite both having chances to win their pre-season clash in Dublin.

In a game that eventually saw the two sides throw on their headline names, neither of them could find the goal that would've given one side bragging rights over the other with just one outing left before the Premier League season begins.

Joshua Zirkzee was on hand to score the game's opener after some impressive work from Bryan Mbeumo, who was among the game's outstanding players. He waltzed past his opposite number and had half of Croke Park to run into, before laying on his team-mate to finish past James Trafford.

Despite United's dominance it was Leeds who were able to claw their way back into the game, thanks to a lapse in concentration, which allowed Dan James to get hold of the ball before laying on Brenden Aaronson to score.

Mbeumo would see a shot hit the bar just before the break and, once the second-half got underway, Senne Lammens needed to produce a reaction save to deny Harry Wilson.

By the time the hour mark hit 20 of the 22 players on the pitch had appeared from the bench. But even with Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha pulling the strings the Red Devils couldn't find the winner. The Portuguese star did have the ball in the net before the offside flag denied him and hit the bar in the dying stages as his quality showed, but couldn't provide the winning touch.

Determined to give the thousands of fans a winner, the Boyle Sports Cup went to penalties, and Fernandes' failure to hit the target silenced the stadium. The shootout went beyond the five spot kicks and the unlucky man to miss was James Justin - handing those from Manchester the trophy. Here's five talking points from the Irish capital.

Across the course of the evening those in red will certainly say they had more possession and time in the final third, but it counts for little if you can't make it count. Alex Cairns came on for James Trafford at half-time, but will not have expected to be so rarely called upon.

If anything it was Dermott Mee who needed to make the more notable saves in the second-half. United were minus Benjamin Sesko, who will look to truly establish himself as the team's striker this season, and a No 9 on form may well have seized on some of the half chances that were created. Fernandes, as he has done some many times, tried to win the match with individual bits of quality, but fell just short. The United talisman was able to smile after his penalty miss, which he'll hope is the only blot on his record this season.

The Dutchman hasn't lit up Old Trafford during his two years at the club, so much so that his days could be numbered amid talk of a return to Italy, possibly with Juventus. He's seen forwards arrive and push him down the pecking order but he was tasked with leading the line and needed less than 20 minutes to score the opener.

Zirkzee profited from some impressive play from Mbeumo, but his first time finish was of a player in confidence. This close to the season managers often look to get players who are going to be part of their plans match sharp - and the Dutchman looks that, even if his future remains unclear.

The Whites came out for the second-half, albeit later than they should, with a team featuring 10 news players as Daniel Farke changed all but one individual. If anything Leeds' side looked better than it did in the opening 45 minutes as Anton Stach, Ethan Ampadu, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and new signing Wilson all ran out.

It serves to highlight how, after two summer transfer windows, Leeds have created a squad that looks more capable of dealing with life in the top flight. They won the Championship in 2025 but already have been able to attract the likes of Wilson, who was not short of offers this summer. If the feared second season is about to begin, they look more than equipped for it.

In an area where United want to level up, Tyler Fletcher will learn quickly that notable errors could stick in the mind of his bosses. The teenager is set for more involvement this season, but a lapse in contentration in his own third just seconds before Leeds' equaliser will serve as a frustration.

Central midfield is a position which has already seen two new faces arrive, another could follow, and Fletcher will know that taking risks, failing to look over your shoulder, won't fly once the competitive games come round. The 19-year-old has made plenty of forward strides in pre-season, but Aaronson's equaliser will serve as a reminder of how quickly a mistake can be punished.

82,000 packed out Croke Park, Europe's third biggest stadium, and further served to highlight how healthy the Yorkshire vs Lancashire rivalry is. When you consider the two teams didn't play each other in the league for 16 years, the passion for the match-up has more than remained.

Leeds secured a landmark victory at Old Trafford last year, one of the few defeats Michael Carrick had to stomach, and the county divide coupled with years of history ensures that this remains one of England's most hotly contest affairs - and that doesn't change when they cross the Irish Sea.

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