Man Utd vs Leeds pleasant deserted as Michael Carrick left livid by crowd

Manchester United continued their pre-season work with a landmark friendly against Leeds United at Croke Park but the game was forced to be abandoned early

On a night where the UK watched a once-in-a-generation solar eclipse event, there was a lack of bright sparks in the crowd as Manchester United’s friendly against Leeds was abandoned and full-time was called early after kids invaded the pitch.

As the match ticked towards 90 minutes, with the scores level at 1-1, several young fans ran onto the pitch in an attempt to get selfies with the players, convincing more youngsters to also enter the pitch. The referee called a halt to the game which leaving Michael Carrick and Daniel Farke furious. Noussair Mazraoui scored the winning penalty to cap off a good workout for both teams. Carrick’s side have enjoyed a packed pre-season heading into the landmark game at Croke Park. A draw against PSG followed victories over Atletico Madrid and Rosenborg after they started the 2026/27 season with a 1-0 defeat to Wrexham almost one month ago.

When the Roses rivalry is renewed, it is rarely ever friendly, and the clash in Dublin had the added incentive of being the first club football match ever to be held at the home of Irish sport. 82,000 fans filled Croke Park for the historic match which left those in attendance plenty to digest.

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Like United, Leeds started their pre-season against Wrexham but Daniel Farke’s side had won all four friendlies, including those against Sunderland, Liverpool and RB Leipzig – leaving the Red Devils in no doubt about the test they would face.

Carrick again gave chances to Harry Amass and Tyler Fletcher in the starting line-up, with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha and Youri Tielemans all among the substitutes. But the game came too soon for Lisandro Martinez, Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo to be involved.

The Englishman’s selection saw Joshua Zirkzee again start behind Bryan Mbeumo in the fluid No.10 role, and the Dutchman’s slick first touch and eye for a pass certainly got United moving in the final third. And it was his left footed effort that forced James Trafford into the first save of the game following Diogo Dalot’s low cross.

But Zirkzee wouldn’t be denied a second time, finishing strongly on his left foot at the near post from the edge of the box from Mbeumo’s pass. Zirkzee continues to be an enigma in that United squad. Undoubtedly a talented player, his tag of being a ‘nine and a half’ because of his creative play from deep and not being the most clinical of strikers is proving to be a problem that Carrick is having fitting him into his squad.

Linked with a move to Serie A, Zirkzee has done virtually all he can to showcase his skill this summer, but it remains to be seen whether he will be involved, or even still at the club, when United begin their Premier League campaign in 10 days against Hull City.

United largely looked assured in possession, but it was another difficult day for Tyler Fletcher, who failed to learn from having his pocket pinched on the halfway line by Dan James as the rapid Welshman again nipped in to win the ball off the dawdling Scotland international.

This time it proved costly as James squared the ball to Brenden Aaronson in the box who poked the ball past Senne Lammens with Leeds’ first and only shot on target of the first half. A 45 minutes Carrick would have been pleased with, bar the soft equaliser from the Reds’ perspective.

Despite having the experienced first-teamers on the bench Carrick gave teenage winger Tynan Thompson, signed from Tottenham last month, his United bow. Dan Armer and Toby Collyer, who also faces an uncertain future after an injury-hit season on loan in the Championship last season, also entered the fray. While Farke made 10 changes at the break, only centre-back Sebastiaan Bornauw kept his place for the second half.

However, the changes strengthened Leeds as they came out from the break the better side, seeing Harry Wilson force a great stop from the foot of Senne Lammens.

The stars were eventually introduced on the hour mark and United gained control of the game, largely thanks to Tielemans and Fernandes linking up in the middle of the park.

Fernandes thought he had put United back in front with 10 minutes left when he whipped a left footed effort into the near post after latching onto Luke Shaw’s through pass. However, the linesman’s flag was raised for the close-call decision. With no VAR in operation, thankfully for Leeds and everyone watching, there was no review or a clear cut camera angle.

Neither team were able to get a late winner, thanks to the pitch invaders, but a penalty shootout was used to decide a winner.