NEW YORK: Louis van Gaal’s reign as manager of Manchester United got off to a rousing start on Wednesday with a 7-0 friendly victory over Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy.

England striker Wayne Rooney scored twice in the first half, while 20-year-old defender Reece James and Ashley Young also contributed two goals apiece and Danny Welbeck scored as United opened their summer tour with a surprisingly polished win at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

United now move on to the International Champions Cup, a collection of pre-season matches featuring eight European clubs all preparing for the start of their domestic campaigns.

Manchester United will play AS Roma on Saturday in Denver, meet Inter Milan on July 29 in Washington and face Real Madrid on August 2 in suburban Detroit where a sold-out Michigan Stadium crowd will number some 110,000 —projected to be the largest US crowd ever for the sport.

Premier League champions Manchester City were also in action on Wednesday, beating Sporting Kansas City 4-1.

City’s Bruno Zuculini — a 21-year-old Argentine midfielder — opened the scoring and although C.J. Sapong equalised for the hosts, Belgian Dedryck Boyata nodded in a free kick to put Manchester City ahead 2-1 at half-time.

Serbian defender Aleksander Kolarov added a goal off a penalty kick before 17-year-old Nigerian Kelechi Iheanacho finished the scoring in the 88th minute.

In Boston, Marco Borriello scored in the 90th minute to give Roma a 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Fenway Park. There were limited chances until Borriello volleyed in a corner from in front of goal.

For the second time in three years, Fenway, the home of the Boston Red Sox, was transformed into the home of Liverpool, which is owned by Fenway Sports Group.

John Henry, owner of the Red Sox, also is the controlling partner of Fenway Sports Group. Roma beat Liverpool 2-1 at Fenway two years ago.

Wednesday’s game was the first of four scheduled matches in the United States for Liverpool, who travel to Chicago, New York and Charlotte.

In other North American pre-season friendlies involving English clubs and Major League Soccer clubs on Wednesday, Tottenham edged hosts Toronto 3-2 and Aston Villa blanked Dallas 2-0.

Published in Dawn, July 25th , 2014