Kaiser Chiefs Vs. Manchester United Match Report

United’s pre-season preparations continued with an entertaining draw against Kaizer Chiefs in the Vodacom Challenge opener in Cape Town.

Boss Sir Alex Ferguson will have been satisfied by the work-out against an energetic side who are in the middle of their domestic season in South Africa.

Centre-back Jonathan Quartey gave the Chiefs the lead from the penalty spot in the 37th minute, before Chris Eagles converted Carlos Tevez’s cross for the second-half equaliser.

Rio Ferdinand and Mikael Silvestre were late withdrawals for United, but it was nevertheless a strong starting XI, with Ryan Giggs in the centre of midfield, Darren Fletcher on the right and Tevez and Wayne Rooney up front.

The Reds showed some neat touches but created little in the first half, with Paul Scholes’ rasping free-kick – tipped over by Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune – about as good as it got.

The game began in glorious sunshine in Newlands Stadium, despite it being mid-winter in South Africa, and a colourful crowd did their best to create a carnival atmosphere with air-horns and costumes.

The Chiefs’ main attacking threat was an Anderson lookalike, Siphiwe Tshabalala, who almost gave his side the lead in the sixth minute, only to see his shot well blocked by Gary Neville.

And it was the Chiefs’ pacy left-winger who won the penalty, playing a neat one-two before charging into the box where he was upended by Neville.

Quartey sent Tomasz Kuszczak the wrong way from the spot to opening the scoring, although the subdued reaction of the crowd suggested the majority of them were United fans.

Neville had some joy down the right with his trademark overlapping runs, but United failed to create many clear-cut chances in the opening 45 minutes.

Tevez, who did not feature against Aberdeen last weekend, headed Neville’s cross just over, while Nemanja Vidic glanced a corner just wide.

United improved in the second half and Tevez was inches away from the equaliser when his header from Eagles’ cross drifted just wide of the far post.

Eagles equalised on the hour mark when he headed home Tevez’s superb right-wing cross and United immediately pressed for a second goal.

Ferguson kept his promise to give all his players a run-out on the South African trip by making a raft of substitutions late on.

And two of the changes nearly combined to produce the winner, with Fraizer Campbell heading Danny Simpson’s cross just wide.

The Chiefs flagged late in the game but United could not find a winner; however, the Reds’ main priority of improving fitness and sharpness was achieved.

Next up for United in the Vodacom Challenge are Orlando Pirates in Durban on Tuesday night. Fans can watch the match live on MUTV and MUTV Online.

United: Kuszczak; Neville (Simpson 62), Vidic, Brown (Evans 69), O'Shea; Fletcher, Scholes, Giggs, Eagles (Campbell 62); Tevez, Rooney (Gibson 69).