MAN UNITED 1, SEVILLA 3
Spanish side Sevilla ruined Rio Ferdinand’s night with victory in his testimonial at Old Trafford.
The Reds’ dependable defender was rewarded for his long service – 432 appearances and 14 trophies – but it was not a memorable on the pitch as Sevilla emerged victors.
Little significance could be paid to the outcome of the match as United played a far from full-strength side.
Indeed, a look into the directors box proved that with Robin van Persie, Javier Hernandez, Ashley Young, Danny Welbeck, Nani, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Rafael all spectators.
And on the bench were players like Michael Carrick, Wilfried Zaha, Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Ryan Giggs.
Their side included barely-known players such as Adnan Januzaj, Angelo Henriquez and Alexander Buttner.
United found themselves 2-0 down after 25 minutes after their defence was tewice sliced open by slick and incisive passing moves which brought about goals for Vitoli and Marko Marin, the player who is on loan from Chelsea.
It could have been an even greater deficit had keeper David de Gea not managed to deflect a shot from Marin on to the crossbar with his legs.
Sevilla keeper Beto, in fairness, also made excellent saves to deny Henriquez and Shinji Kagawa.
United halved the deficit midway through the half when Januzaj’s trickery on the left set up Antonio Valencia who slotted home from close range.
Zaha and Carrick both went close to equalising before Sevilla added a third goal in stoppage time when Tiberio Guarente poked a pass to substitute Bryan Rabello to fired home from seven yards.