Friendly: Chivas 3 Man. United 2

United’s first visit to Mexico ended in disappointment as the Reds lost 3-2 to Club Deportivo Guadalajara - aka Chivas - at the newly-opened Estadio Omnilife.

As expected, the night was all about one Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez. He began the evening in the red and white of his former team and gave the home fans the perfect farewell gift with a brilliantly-taken goal after just 10 minutes. Chicharito changed teams at the break to make his second appearance for United, and therefore finished on the losing side after further Chivas goals from Adolfo Bautista and Hector Reynoso. Chris Smalling - with his first goal for the club - and Nani were the Reds' scorers.

A spectacular opening ceremony (the party continued at half-time as well) preceded the game with an on-pitch ‘show’ akin to what we’re used to seeing before the World Cup kick-off with lasers, dramatic music, dancers and fireworks all involved to mark the first game at Chivas’ hugely impressive, spaceship-like arena.

The pre-match performers eventually made way for the evening’s main acts – kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes - with Sir Alex opting to give youth a chance against Chivas’ first choice eleven which included, of course, Chicharito. A sprinkling of experienced heads also lined up for United with Tomasz Kuszczak, John O’Shea – captain for the night, Paul Scholes and Dimitar Berbatov all starters.

Deafening screams greeted Chicharito’s every touch, the loudest of which came on 10 minutes when he found the net. A lovely knock-down from Adolfo Bautista, who was a menace all night for United’s young back four, dropped perfectly into the path of Chicharito who hit a first-time shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner. Cue the madness in the stands.

The furore was somewhat muted by a United equaliser two minutes later which was a special moment for the Reds’ other summer arrival. Darron Gibson swung a corner in from the left with Chris Smalling there to meet it and head past Luis Michel.

The setback had little affect on Chivas who continued to look the livelier of the two sides throughout the opening period with Bautista and Chicharito pulling the Reds’ defence all over the place. The pair both went close to restoring their side’s advantage – Bautista first with a header which flew just wide, and then Chicharito who sent a bicycle kick over the bar.

United were struggling to create any openings at the other end with Fabio’s good run and well-struck shot – straight at Michel – the only chance of any real note. With the half drawing to a close, Chivas were continuing to threaten. Chicharito struck a low drive straight at Kuszczak, before Bautista gave the hosts the lead once more, five minutes from the break.

A Xavier Baez free-kick was allowed to run all the way through to the blond-haired attacker who was waiting at the back post to poke home from close range.

Sir Alex sent Nani on for Gibson at the restart, while he was also able to call upon the services of Chicharito – in place of Berbatov - who United’s defenders were no doubt glad to see the back of!

Smalling went close to netting his second of the night on 50 minutes but his header from a Nani corner was wide. Chivas seemed intent on making sure their special night ended on a high and Hector Reynoso had the fans off their seats just before the hour. After Kuszczak had palmed away a fine drive from substitute Michel Vazquez, Reynoso powered a header past the Polish stopper from the resulting short corner

Chicharito departed proceedings just after the hour as Sir Alex introduced a raft of fresh legs in the shape of Giggs, Macheda, Rafael and Welbeck. Their arrival did little to change the pattern of the game though with Chivas remaining on top. Their lead was reduced 10 minutes from time, however, when a deflected cross from Tom Cleverley fell to Nani, who had ghosted in from the right wing, to slot home.

Chivas twice came close to claiming a fourth strike - Kuszczak pushed away Vazquez’s shot from the edge of the area, and Fabio cleared substitute Juan Ocampo’s poked effort off the line from the resultant corner. But three goals eventually proved enough to overcome a United team at the end of a largely successful three-week tour of North America.

United: Kuszczak; De Laet (Rafael 65), Smalling, O’Shea, Fabio; Gibson (Nani 46), Scholes (Giggs 65), C.Evans (Fletcher 75), Cleverley; Berbatov (Hernandez 46, Welbeck 65), Diouf (Macheda 65). Subs not used: Amos, J.Evans. Booked: Scholes.

Nani takes on the Chivas defence - he'd later score United's second goal