Pre-Season Friendly: Man. United 2 Portsmouth 1

A solid test in the Nigerian capital of Abuja saw United’s unbeaten pre-season campaign continue, with the Reds running out 2-1 winners against Portsmouth.

Second-half goals from Chris Eagles and Carlos Tevez gave United a deserved win in what was a decent work-out against Premier League opposition, a side that will become familiar foes in the coming weeks. This is the first of three matches in the space of a month against Harry Redknapp’s men; there’s also the Community Shield at Wembley on 10 August, then the league encounter two weeks later at Fratton Park.

United were without Wayne Rooney for this match, he suffered a dead leg against Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, while Ben Foster was also out with a knock. Sir Alex continued to give young players a chance, with Jonny Evans, Darron Gibson, Eagles and Fraizer Campbell included from the start.

The Reds began brightly and were controversially denied a fifth-minute opener. Glen Johnson fouled Campbell inside the area, giving Tevez the chance to score from the spot. He expertly sent David James the wrong way, but the referee ordered a retake for an encroachment into the box. Having previously plumped for placement, Tevez chose power but could only look on as his second attempt rattled the bar.

Despite a dramatic start, the game was played at a relatively conservative pace, perhaps due to the heat – humid 28oC temperatures at kick-off – or the fact that both teams had played matches the day before. However, any openings were coming from United; Chris Eagles missed a one-on-one with James midway through the half, then Campbell spurned a chance from a similar position on 35 minutes.

In the second half Jermain Defoe was first to go close, forcing an excellent low save from the rarely-tested Tomasz Kuszczak. But five minutes after the restart United, and Eagles specifically, made amends for missed first-half chances. Pompey failed to clear the ball from a Reds attack and Eagles smashed the loose ball into the top corner from 12 yards. It was nothing more than Sir Alex’s men deserved.

United soon moved 2-0 in front with another emphatic finish. Tevez raced down the right channel and surprised James, who was expecting a shot across goal, with powerful low drive into the near corner. It was his last touch of the match – he was replaced by Ryan Giggs - but a good note to end on for the impressive Argentinian.

Defoe pulled back a goal for Portsmouth in the last minute of normal time, but United held out to record a third win in four matches in Africa, bringing the curtain down on a highly successful visit.

Other plus points on the night were Jonny Evans’ display in defence, and outings for youngster Ben Amos, Tom Cleverley and Rodrigo Possebon. United now return to England with matches against Espanyol (2 Aug), Peterborough (4 Aug), Juventus (6 Aug) and Portsmouth (10 Aug) before the start of the season.

United: Kuszczak (Amos, 76); Neville, Vidic, Evans (Cathcart, 65), Silvestre; Gibson (Possebon, 73), Carrick (O'Shea, 65), Scholes, Eagles (Cleverley, 79); Tevez (Giggs, 65), Campbell.

Subs not used: Fletcher, Simpson, Martin.