CHICAGO, United States — Manchester United secured their second consecutive victory in the Premier League Summer Series pre-season tournament, defeating Bournemouth 4-1 in Chicago on Wednesday.
Despite a rainy and windswept Soldier Field, goals from Rasmus Hojlund, Patrick Dorgu, Amad Diallo, and teenager Ethan Williams sealed an encouraging result for Ruben Amorim’s squad.
United, who had opened their tour with a 2-1 win over West Ham on Saturday, maintained control throughout the match against the Cherries.
They took an early lead in the eighth minute when Hojlund connected with an inviting cross from the left flank by Dorgu, timing his run and jump perfectly to glance a header past Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
Dorgu then doubled United’s advantage in the 25th minute, latching onto a clever, lofted quick free-kick from Mason Mount, muscling his way into the area, and slotting a composed finish beneath the advancing Petrovic.
Diallo extended United’s lead to 3-0 in the 53rd minute. Amorim subsequently made nine substitutions with 20 minutes remaining in the match.
Substitute Williams made an immediate impact, curling a low finish into the bottom corner just two minutes after coming on, putting United up 4-0.
The sole blemish on United’s otherwise dominant performance was an 88th-minute own goal from Matthijs de Ligt.
In Wednesday’s other Premier League friendly held in Chicago, West Ham staged a comeback to defeat former manager David Moyes’s Everton 2-1. Idrissa Gueye put Everton ahead in the 17th minute before West Ham rallied, equalizing through Brazilian international Lucas Paqueta just before half-time.
Germany international Niclas Fullkrug’s 64th-minute strike secured the victory for the Hammers.
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This result marked another disappointing pre-season setback for Everton, who had previously suffered a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday.
Everton boss David Moyes expressed his concerns after the match: “I’m not overly concerned because I don’t have the players which I need and what I want. We knew before we came (to the US) we were going to be really up against it. So, it was never going to be us coming here and winning.”
He added, “At the moment we’re not ready to perform well enough in this tournament, and we’re not ready to start the Premier League season.”
The four-team competition will conclude in Atlanta on Sunday, with Manchester United set to face Everton, and West Ham taking on Bournemouth.
