Friendly: Philadelphia 0 Man. United 1

Gabriel Obertan’s well-taken winner ensured a second successive tour victory for the Reds, who ran out 1-0 victors over Philadelphia Union at the Lincoln Financial Field.

Obertan collected a clever pass from the impressive Danny Welbeck before slotting home from close range 14 minutes from time to claim a hard-fought win.

The Reds survived a couple of scares at the other end, with Tomasz Kuszczak making a fine reflex stop just before Obertan fired the decisive strike. The Frenchman's goal was the highlight of a match that was good in patches but largely uneventful.

Sir Alex made six changes to the side that started against Celtic in Toronto five days earlier. Kuszczak started in goal behind a back four of John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Jonny Evans and Fabio. Obertan and Ryan Giggs took up wide positions, with Tom Cleverley, scorer of United’s third goal in the win over Celtic, given his chance alongside Paul Scholes in the centre of midfield. Welbeck, another scorer against the Bhoys, partnered Federico Macheda in attack.

Just like the match against Celtic, the Reds started brightly and went close to breaking the deadlock on three minutes when Macheda put Obertan in down the right. The winger took a touch before letting fly from a tight angle but his low shot found the side-netting. Obertan was involved again six minutes later when he connected with Welbeck’s fine cross, but his well-struck volley flew wide.

Having soaked up United’s early pressure, the home side had a first sight of goal on 12 minutes when Danny Mwanga worked space to find Alejandro Moreno in the area. Thankfully for United, the striker couldn’t connect properly with his shot, allowing Kuszczak to claim easily.

Proceedings turned somewhat scrappy thereafter with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. Welbeck did his utmost to liven things up just after the half-hour mark, though. After firing a looping 25-yard volley just wide of Brad Knighton’s goal, he was denied by a fine stop from the Philly goalkeeper after penetrative wing play from Fabio.

Sebastien Le Toux was presented with an equally great chance at the other end after being found by the lively Mwanga, but the Frenchman drilled his low effort just wide of Kuszczak’s left-hand post.

Philly boss Peter Nowak made seven substitutions at the start of the second period and, as the new personnel settled in, Welbeck almost caught them off guard when he hooked an effort just wide of substitute keeper Brian Perk’s far post.

At the other end, two of the Zolos' newest introductions almost made an immediate impact. First, Jack McInerney blasted a low drive inches wide after being well found by Mwanga and soon after Nick Zimmerman stung the palms of United's Polish stopper with a well-struck effort from 20 yards.

Sir Alex followed his opposite number in making a raft of substitutions just after the hour-mark, with Corry Evans – making his first senior appearance – Darren Fletcher, Rafael, Chris Smalling and Dimitar Berbatov all entering the fray.

A frenzied few minutes followed, with the Reds having a penalty shout turned down when Obertan appeared to have his heels clipped by Toni Stahl. Kuszczak then brilliantly pushed away Danny Califf’s flicked header from Kyle Nakazawa’s free-kick.

The breakthrough finally arrived on 76 minutes when two of United’s liveliest performers combined to perfection. Welbeck picked up possession on the right wing and slotted a perfect pass into Obertan, who finished neatly from close range.

Three minutes later, Berbatov rattled the woodwork after picking up a loose cross and turning to let fly, while Giggs was denied a stonewall penalty six minutes from time after being blatantly blocked in the area.

The Reds survived a last-minute scare when Zimmerman’s cross was blasted over by Le Toux from three yards, while Ritchie De Laet's late burst into the area almost brought a second for the visitors in stoppage time.

It was another good work-out for Sir Alex's men, whose next pre-season test comes against Kansas City Wizards on Sunday.

United: Kuszczak; O'Shea (De Laet 76), Brown (Smalling 61), J.Evans, Fabio (Rafael 61); Obertan, Scholes (C.Evans 61), Cleverley (Fletcher 61), Giggs; Welbeck, Macheda (Berbatov 61). Subs not used: Amos. Booked: Scholes

Federico Macheda looked lively in Philadelphia