Man Utd scrape draw against Cerezo Osaka

Manchester United midfielder Wilfried Zaha (2nd R) celebrates his goal with teammates during their friendly football match against Cerezo Osaka at Nagai Stadium in Osaka. (AFP PHOTO/KAZUHIRO NOGI)

OSAKA: A stoppage time goal from Wilfried Zaha saved Manchester United from the brink of a humiliating third defeat in their pre-season Asian tour Friday, drawing 2-2 with Cerezo Osaka at Shinji Kagawa's former J-League home.

Kagawa, who moved to Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund a year ago, also delighted a sell-out crowd of 44,856 at the Nagai Stadium by scoring United's first goal.

The Red Devils now have two wins and two defeats in Asia. The English side opened their Asian tour with a 0-1 loss to Thai league all stars in Bangkok before overwhelming the A-League All Stars in Sydney. The Premier League champions then suffered a second defeat to J-League's Yokohama Marinos last Tuesday.

Cerezo striker Kenyu Sugimoto opened the scoring on 34 minutes as he beat two defenders to slam a left-footer past Lindegaard after intercepting a pass by United's Chris Smalling.

United nearly levelled in the 40th minute when Kagawa struck over after a cross from Robin van Persie.

Kagawa then bungled a penalty shot in the 53rd minute when Ashley Young was clipped down in the box by Cerezo defender Tatsuya Yamashita. The Japanese playmaker fluffed his penalty by kicking straight into the hands of Osaka custodian Kim Jin-Hyeon.

The 24-year-old Japanese quickly restored some pride by pulling one back for United two minutes later, slotting the ball through Kim's legs after trapping a deep left cross from Ryan Giggs.

Minutes after Kagawa was substituted amid roars from his former home supporters, Cerezo surprised the English champions with their second goal through 18-year-old striker Takumi Minamino on 63 minutes.

Minamino's shot from the left outside the area sailed into the top far side corner.

Zaha managed to redeem the visitors and save them from humiliation by hitting a much needed equaliser one minute into stoppage time on a cross from Jesse Lingard.

For the last match of their Asian tour, the English champions will play Kitchee FC in Hong Kong on Monday and wind up their entire pre-season campaign with a friendly against Swedish outfit AIK Fotboll in Stockholm on August 6.

United will open their title defence against Swansea City away on August 17.