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Home , Isco, Karim Benzema, Matteo Darmian, Toni Kroos

Sparring partner McLeod wins world Malignaggi slams title, Merritt’s ‘scumbag’13 McGregor dream15 dashed WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2017

Nadal eyes number one in Montreal, Murray sidelined Page 14 magic wins Super Cup for Real

SKOPJE: A delightful goal by Isco proved who emerged as the unlikely main the difference as Real survived a threat going forward for Real in the first half. Manchester United fightback to win 2-1 and The Brazilian almost opened lift the UEFA Super Cup in the Macedonian the scoring in the 16th minute, getting in capital of Skopje yesterday. Casemiro put front of Matteo Darmian to head a the reigning European champions in front corner against the bar from six yards. on 24 minutes on a steamy summer’s night And the breakthrough came just past the in the Balkans and Isco doubled their lead midway point in the first half as seven minutes into the second half after a was afforded the time to flight a ball over one-two with . The gulf in class Victor Lindelof-another United debutant-for between Madrid-for whom Cristiano Casemiro to stretch and volley past David de Ronaldo appeared as a late substitute-and Gea. De Gea, formerly a Madrid transfer tar- Europa League winners United that Jose get, then needed to intervene to save from a Mourinho had feared was all too evident snap-shot that followed a and it looked like the Spaniards would go driving run into the area by Luka Modric, as on to win by a wider margin. Zidane’s side were restricted to a one-goal But pulled one back just lead at the break. Mourinho sent on Marcus past the hour, marking his competitive debut Rashford for Jesse Lingard at the start of the for United with a goal and sparking a big second half, yet it was at the other end that improvement from the club the chances kept coming. De Gea repelled a in the final stages. Kroos piledriver but there was nothing he It was to no avail, with ’s could do to stop Isco making it 2-0 in the side winning this trophy for the second year 52nd minute. Surrounded by red shirts just running and the fourth time overall. It is the inside the area to the left, Isco escaped their eighth time in nine years that a Spanish club attentions by playing a one-two with Bale has won the Super Cup. before coolly finishing past De Gea. BALE HANDED START Bale then struck the bar, and all this While Ronaldo started on the bench for was going on without Ronaldo, who Madrid having only commenced pre- appeared from the bench to warm-up, training at the weekend, Bale was included raising hysteric cheers from the sizeable in the line-up. United boss Mourinho number of locals with sympathies for the caused a stir on Monday when he claimed Spanish side. United had a mountain to he would make a bid to take the Welshman climb and were not helped when Lukaku to if he were not a starter at the blazed over after Keylor Navas pushed a Philip II Arena. Pogba header out into his path. Lukaku Despite the presence of £75 million ($97 did not make the same mistake twice, million) signing Lukaku up front, with Paul converting the rebound when a Nemanja Pogba behind, United gave the impression Matic drive was not convincingly dealt that they could do with some extra inspira- with by Navas, but the ‘keeper redeemed tion in the final third. himself with a vital late save to deny SKOPJE: Real Madrid pose with the trophy after defeating Manchester United 2-1 during the Super Cup final soccer match at Philip II Having missed much of last season’s run- Rashford. And Real, with Ronaldo on for Arena in Skopje, yesterday. — AP in due to injury, Bale is fit again, but it was the closing stages, held on. — AFP