Man United 4-1 Bournemouth (31 Jul, 2025) Game Analysis
CHICAGO — Rasmus Højlund sent a message to Ruben Amorim that he can be Manchester United’s first-choice striker next season with a goal against Bournemouth at Soldier Field.
Højlund scored with a delicate header in an impressive 4-1 win for United as they made it two wins out of two on the summer tour of America.
It was a timely boost for the Denmark international after club bosses stepped up their search for a new No.9 by beginning talks with RB Leipzig for Benjamin Sesko.
United also hold an interest in Aston Villa forward. But for now they’re pushing ahead with a move for Sesko, who is valued at more than €80 million by the Bundesliga side.
Sesko’s arrival — if it happens — would throw Højlund’s future at Old Trafford into further doubt. He managed just four Premier League goals last season and there’s been interest from Napoli and Juventus this summer.
His preference is to stay at United and he did his case no harm by finding the net against Bournemouth after just eight minutes.
It was made by Patrick Dorgu’s cross from the left, but Højlund did well to find space in the box and glance his header inside the far post. After scoring the equaliser in a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium in April, he must like playing Bournemouth.
Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire
Dorgu continued his impressive form in preseason with United’s second goal after 25 minutes.
Mason Mount spotted Dorgu’s run with a quick free-kick over the top and the left wing-back scored his first United goal with a low shot which Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, the new arrival from Chelsea, probably should have saved.
In torrential rain in Chicago which was so heavy it sent fans running for cover, United extended their lead after half-time.
In the 53rd minute, Amad Diallo swept the ball into the corner in a crowd from inside the penalty area.
It looked like it might have brushed Højlund’s foot before finding the net and both the Danish striker and Amad ran to the corner flag to celebrate .
As well as question marks up front, there’s also a debate about who should start the season in goal. With André Onana nursing a hamstring injury, 39-year-old Tom Heaton started against Bournemouth.
If Onana doesn’t recover in time, Heaton and Altay Bayindir will battle it out to start the Premier League season against Arsenal. Bayindir is usually Onana’s understudy, but Heaton pushed his case with two good saves.
He palmed Dango Ouattara’s shot past the post in the first half and then in the second half made an excellent instinctive save with his feet to deny Antoine Semenyo.
Amorim made wholesale changes after 70 minutes with only Heaton keeping his place. Ethan Williams was one of those to come on and the 19-year-old forward scored United’s fourth with a smart finish inside the post.
The only negative on an impressive night for United came in the final minute when Heaton was denied his clean sheet by Matthijs De Ligt deflecting David Brooks’ cross into the net.