SYDNEY, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Manchester United have thumped long-standing rivals Leeds 4-0 in a pre-season friendly match on Wednesday evening while on tour in Australia.
The sides met for the first time since 2011 in front of 55,000 fans at Optus Stadium in the Western Australian State capital of Perth.
Manchester's Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba continued to show great pre-season form, but it was 17-year-old Mason Greenwood who was the standout, scoring a close range goal after just 7 minutes, following a slick assist from Pogba.
It was Greenwood's first goal for Manchester and drew heavy praise from manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Solskjaer was so impressed by the youngster's performance that he told reporters Greenwood has a chance to appear in the starting lineup against Chelsea when round 1 of the English Premier League kicks off in August.
"He's got a chance to start that one, definitely," Solskjaer said.
"He's more than capable. He'll always be there in and around the box creating chances."
"You see a talented boy there. He's got every opportunity to make it as a Man United Player," he said.
Rashford followed up with another goal for Manchester before half-time, beating two Leeds defenders to give his team a comfortable lead and send the Aussie spectators wild.
A beautiful headed goal from Phil Jones and converted penalty by Anthony Martial in the second half secured the victory for Manchester.
Leeds were unlucky not to get on the board following a number of promising opportunities, and will undoubtedly be looking for a different result when they fly across the country to face the Western Sydney Wanderers on their home turf on Saturday night.
