With three weeks to go until the start of the new season, Manchester United continued the warm-up for their title defence with an emphatic triumph in South Africa when they beat Kaizer Chiefs 4-0 in the final of the Challenge tournament. The Chiefs won the corresponding fixture two years ago, but this time a first-half goal from Ryan Giggs, plus strikes from Wayne Rooney, Tom Cleverley and Fraizer Campbell in the second half, earned victory for the Premier League champions.
The United manager Sir Alex Ferguson used the showpiece match in Pretoria to mix his side up with a game against Portsmouth to come in Nigeria tomorrow. In addition to 18-year-old Cleverley, two other promising teenagers, Craig Cathcart and Rodrigo Possebon, were given run-outs.
It was a comfortable victory for United as the opposition looked weary after defeating Orlando Pirates on Thursday. They could not cope with Rooney's intelligence and movement, and the England striker's polished performance included an assist for Cleverley's goal.
A near full-strength Chelsea brushed aside the challenge of Chinese outfit Chengdu Blades 7-0 in Macau, with goals from Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole (2), Franco Di Santo and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Lampard played only the first half, alongside Deco and Michael Essien, with Wright-Phillips given the full 90 minutes. Cole came off the bench to grab his brace in a match that raised funds for the Sichaun earthquake appeal.
Chelsea's west London neighbours Fulham completed their tour of Asia by beating the Korean side Ulsan Hyundai 2-1, thanks to goals from Simon Davies and new signing Zoltan Gera.
Fulham fell behind in the first half when Lee Jin Ho headed past another summer signing Mark Schwarzer, but Davies headed home a Jimmy Bullard cross to draw level, before Gera stabbed home a goalmouth scramble following good work from Fulham's Korean midfielder Seol Ki-Hyeon. Fulham also fielded summer signings John Pantsil and Bobby Zamora.
Premier League newcomers Hull City were humbled 4-0 at Crewe Alexandra, who ran out convincing winners thanks to a first-half hat-trick by Calvin Zola and a Nicky Maynard strike. The Tigers, who were promoted to the top flight via the play-offs last season, changed all 11 players at half-time but could not find a way back into the match against the League One side.
West Bromwich Albion, also newly promoted to the Premier League, were beaten 2-1 by Ipswich Town at Portman Road. The Baggies went ahead in the first half thanks to a 20-yard effort from Ishmael Miller, but were back on level terms within three minutes when Tommy Miller scored from the penalty spot after a Jonathan Greening handball. With the game seemingly heading for a draw, Ipswich's new signing Kevin Lisbie, on as a substitute, fired past Scott Carson in the Albion goal to seal victory for the Suffolk side.
Newcastle United were similarly beaten by lower-league opposition, going down 1-0 to Doncaster Rovers. The former Hull striker Stuart Elliot came off the bench to score the game's only goal in the 87th minute, profiting from Luis Enrique's hesitancy in the Magpies' defence. Geremi captained a Newcastle side that also included Sebastien Bassong, who is on trial with the club from Metz.
