Lukaku, Rashford on target as Manchester United down City

HOUSTON: Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford were on target as Manchester United defeated Premier League rivals Manchester City 2-0 in their International Champions Cup pre-season clash here Thursday.

Belgian international Lukaku grabbed his second goal in his second start for United as the Red Devils eased past a disjointed City at Houston´s NRG Stadium.

England striker Rashford meanwhile continued his impressive pre-season form with his third goal in three games of United´s US tour.

The game was the first ever Manchester derby played on foreign soil and both teams commemorated the May 22 attacks at a concert in the city shortly before the kick-off.

United enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan testing new City keeper Ederson with a long-range effort just after 20 minutes.

Ander Herrera also tried his luck from distance shortly afterwards but the young Brazilian gathered comfortably.

At the other end meanwhile, City, who handed a debut to new signing Kyle Walker, slowly got into their stride, with a deflected Raheem Sterling effort tipped over by David De Gea.

City should have had a penalty on 31 minutes when youngster Patrick Roberts was tugged back by Chris Smalling as he burst into the area.

Instead Smalling managed to get a foot in and clear with Sterling´s follow-up effort blocked.

Six minutes later United took the lead with a superb goal from Lukaku.

A long clearance from Paul Pogba drew Ederson off his line but Lukaku managed to nod the loose ball past the stranded City goalkeeper before finishing from a tight angle.

Two minutes afterwards, United doubled their lead with another swift counter-attack.

This time it was Mkhitaryan who turned creator, releasing Rashford with a deft pass.

The teenage England striker picked his spot and drilled a low finish across Ederson into the bottom corner.

United continued to enjoy the better chances early in the second half, with Lukaku almost grabbing a second when his curling strike hit the woodwork on 53 minutes.

Both United manager Jose Mourinho and opposite number Pep Guardiola made a flurry of changes throughout the second half as the game fizzled out.