Manchester United vs Leicester City. Premier League.
Old TraffordAttendance74,439.
Highlights and report as Paul Pogba's penalty and Luke Shaw's first senior goal seal opening-day United victory; Jamie Vardy nets consolation
Sunday 12 August 2018 12:36, UK
Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw scored in each half as Manchester United ushered in the new Premier League season with a 2-1 victory over Leicester at Old Trafford.
France international Pogba coolly converted a third-minute penalty after Daniel Amartey was penalised for handball, before Shaw wrapped up the victory seven minutes from time with his first goal in senior football.
Leicester pulled one back two minutes into added time through Jamie Vardy's close-range header, but United withstood a late onslaught to secure Jose Mourinho the third successive opening-day victory of his tenure at the club.
There were only 75 seconds on the clock when Pogba was handed, literally, the chance to score the first goal of the Premier League season, as a blocked Alexis Sanchez shot hit Amartey's outstretched arm.
Up stepped United's captain, who showed no sign of fatigue after his World Cup-winning summer, to dispatch the spot-kick beyond Kasper Schmeichel into the roof of the net.
United continued on the front foot but any hopes of putting Leicester to the sword in a blistering opening spell subsided as the visitors got a foothold, Wilfred Ndidi drawing David de Gea into action at full stretch with the Foxes' first attempt on target after Fred's poor clearance.
The Spanish goalkeeper was forced into action on 29 minutes as his stunning point-blank save denied James Maddison a goal on his Premier League debut, after Ricardo Pereira's cut-back found the Leicester new boy in space in the area.
And when the resulting corner was cleared as far as Ricardo - another new Leicester signing - Pogba was on hand with a crucial last-gasp deflection to preserve United's lead through to the interval.
United had Eric Bailly to thank for keeping them ahead on 62 minutes as the Ivorian showed great strength to outmuscle Kelechi Iheanacho after he had been played through on goal.
The insurance of a second goal proved elusive for Mourinho's men, who thought they should have had a penalty when Juan Mata's shot deflected behind off Wes Morgan's elbow, but not even a corner was awarded.
And their slender lead faced its greatest threat when substitute Vardy picked Shaw's pocket and crossed for Gray on 75 minutes, but again De Gea proved impenetrable with another fine save.
Substitute Romelu Lukaku should have put the game beyond Leicester on 78 minutes, but the onrushing Schmeichel diverted his effort onto the roof of the net.
Shaw then secured the victory when he fired past Schmeichel from a narrow angle, with Vardy's late effort mere consolation for the Foxes.
While his first senior goal will grab all the headlines, Shaw's overall performance showed signs that the often-maligned full-back is starting to fulfil his potential at Old Trafford. Shaw was United's standout performer, he made the most touches, successful passes and won back possession seven times in his defensive third. What's more, no one had more touches than he did in the opposition box or shots on target. With options at Mourinho's disposal at a premium, it was a timely reminder to his manager of the talents he possesses.
After the nine remaining games on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, United travel to Brighton - live on Renault Super Sunday at 4pm - while Leicester host newly-promoted Wolves at 3pm on Saturday.
