Real Salt Lake 1-2 Manchester United – as it happened

Final thoughts: So more of a match than the LA game, as RSL stood up to United and for the opening half hour at least, took the game to them. Mourinho won’t be happy at the brief tormenting Joao Plata was able to inflict on his defence in that period, though he’ll have been happy to see Lukaku get his opening goal for the team, which turned out to be the game winner.

Elsewhere, Mkhitaryan continued his exponential improvement in a United shirt, and Valencia generously opened up the game by getting himself sent off for an unnecessary foul. Still United could have had more with better finishing, but in the end a narrow win for them was just about a fair result. Manchester City next...

With that, thanks for joining me, and good night.

That’s that then. Final thoughts in a moment

90 mins +4: RSL try to work the ball back up the field but they’ve run out of time...

90 mins +2: We do have some stoppage time as Darmian is down getting treatment after a clash of heads on the corner off that chance. He’s up now and there can only be seconds left.

90 mins: Not imagining we’re going to see a lot of injury time, though we are going to see one more substitute, time permitting, for United. Tuanzebe about to come on, as soon as we get a break in the play.

First, another period of possession from RSL, as they probe for an opening, and suddenly they burst into life. A deflected shot falls perfectly for an overlapping shot from (honestly I didn’t see who) XXX, which Romero does well to get down and parry wide at the near post. That was on target.

88 mins: RSL weave some pretty patterns on the edge of the United box, but a dubious offside call on the lively Haber ends a promising move. He’s had a couple of dangerous little darts at the United defence since coming on.

86 mins: Another good first touch and poor finish for Martial as he loses Schuler on the edge of the box only to fire his shot way over the bar. He should have done better having done the hard part.

84 mins: Will RSL make one last push to try and snatch something from this game? They still look game, but for now the best they can offer is a long ball into the box from wide right, that Romero is able to deal with easily.

82 mins: Fernandez has to come out of his box to clear the ball as Rashford looks to be chasing a through ball into a dangerous position.

Another glimpse of goal for Rashford now, as Martial dummies to let the ball run towards him just by the last defender, but Rashford could not anticipate the movement of the ball.

80 mins: We’re headed to the final ten minutes and right now the scoreline feels a fair reflection of events. United could have been out of sight with a little better finishing, but it would have been hard on a game RSL — though they in turn have not caused United serious problems at the back.

78 mins: RSL doing their best to force the issue here, though they lack some quality with inventiveness and the final ball to cause United sustained problems.

Kyle Curinga comes on for Andrew Brody in one more cheeky substitution from Petke. He jogs on to the field just in time to see a wonderful cross from Pereira being met by Chris Smalling a few yards out. But somehow he flashes his header over the bar.

76 mins: United fail to deal with a cutback in the box and the ball breaks to Mulholland sprinting onto it at the edge of the box. He hits a stinging shot, but it’s just wide. Game opening up since the sending off though.

It was a really stupid foul from Valencia by the way. His opponent was in the middle of the field with his back to goal and Valencia just went through him for no reason.

74 mins: Out of nowhere a chance for United as Rashford whips a wicked cross to the edge of the six yard box from the right touchline. It seemed to surprise its intended target Fellaini, who had space for the header, but mistimed his jump.

72 mins: Immediately RSL threaten with a low teasing ball across the box that’s just looking for a secondary runner to finish it off, but despite the man advantage, none appears. But there’s a little spring in the step right now for RSL 3.0

70 mins: Six players about to come in for RSL. Can they pull back the equalizer against the ten men of United?

68 mins: That incident looks like the cue for those final RSL changes.

66 mins: No sign yet of that next mass change from RSL. Mourinho is up off his bench and muttering at a few of his players right now. Perhaps inspired, Martial goes on a drifting run inside from the left that looks to have delivered him to perfect shooting position, only for his final touch to allow the defender to recover.

And now Valencia goes in very hard from behind on Acosta, sweeping his legs and leaving him on the floor. Alan Chapman consults with his assistant, and it’s a straight red for Valencia. It was deserved. Saucedo still looks in some discomfort as he limps to the side.

64 mins: Martial looks to be sprinting into space on the left, but can’t keep the ball in play. The game is pretty ragged at the moment.

Saucedo finds some space on the left and his partially cleared cross falls to Besler, sprinting forward from the back. But his first-time shot is well wide.

62 mins: United try to up the tempo of their passing in the RSL half but all their pretty triangles come to naught and for a moment at least RSL can go up to the other end. There’s nothing really on for them though and Brooks Lennon loses the ball for United to start their stolid build-up play again.

60 mins: United just beginning to find a few gaps between the lines now, but they can’t find a telling final pass at the moment. And we’re about to have a pause for an injury and more substitutions by the look of it.

Mitchell coming on for Mata by the looks of it — presumably as a precaution after that knock.

58 mins: Mata wincing a little after taking a knock in midfield. Meanwhile up near the RSL goal, Martial battles to try and get a shot off on the left of the box after a good touch to set himself up, but Maund sticks with him to block the shot for a corner.

56 mins: United push a little higher now and Fellaini jumps hopefully for a high ball into the box, but it was never going to reach him.

RSL’s Saucedo is on the ground now after trying a cheeky move past Pereira that earned him a body check to the floor.

54 mins: United pushing the ball around in their own half for now. Mourinho looking fantastically underwhelmed on the sideline. RSL for their part, definitely look more anonymous in this second incarnation of tonight’s promised three. They’ve not had any glimpses of goal in this half. Then again, neither have United.

52 mins: Mostly United possession so far, and again there’s an attempt to spring Rashford behind a high RSL line, and he’s called off again, though replays suggest he should have been allowed to run clear on goal.

50 mins: Rashford just offside as he tries to pick up a through pass down the right. Can he continue his great start to pre-season?

Fellaini barrels forward now, but to nowhere in particular — as is his wont, sometimes.

48 mins: According to no less an authority than the Manchester Evening News, this is the new Manchester United team for this half:

• Romero
  
• Darmian
  
• Pereira
  
• Fellaini
  
• Valencia
  
• Smalling
  
• Mata
  
• Bailly
  
• Herrera
  
• Martial
  
• Rashford

Whole bunch of United subs. I’ll try to fill you in as we go.

The drummer from Rancid did not write a song for your team

Half-time thoughts:

Definitely not the procession the LA Galaxy game was, though RSL’s use of its starters in the opening half hour was always likely to yield a better facsimile of a contest than the Galaxy’s reserves. Credit to RSL for taking the game to United though, and they got just reward for some lively attacking play with the opening goal.

United eased into the game though and looked to be playing well within themselves as they did so. Mkhitariyan was involved in most of their best moves, got the equalizer and set up Lukaku for a goal that will give him confidence for the tougher challenges ahead on the rest of this tour.

The game will change yet again now. Mourinho will make wholesale changes at the half, and in another 15 minutes we’ll see yet another mass change from Mike Petke. But on the scoreboard at least, we’re still in the midst of a tight game.

Half-time thoughts in a moment...

45 mins+1: Lukaku chases a ball over the top but he’s forced out wide and by the time he passes the ball back to continue the move, the referee has decided that’s enough for the first half.

44 mins: Perhaps mindful of Mourinho’s half-time address, and the impending substitutions for their own team, United have just upped the urgency a little in these final moments of the half. Chasing more actively now.

42 mins: United pressing again high up the field, testing the confidence of these RSL second-stringers. But despite giving up the goal, the hosts are holding their nerve for the most part.

40 mins: Good for Lukaku to get the goal, but equally significant was the movement and vision of Mkhitaryan, who’s already been one of the highlights of the tour so far.