Minnesota Vikings open US Bank Stadium with pre-season win over San Diego Chargers

The Minnesota Vikings opened their new US Bank Stadium with a 23-10 win over the San Diego Chargers in their third NFL pre-season outing.

The Vikings have been playing at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium for the last two years while the new stadium, which cost more than $1billion (£763m), was being built.

US Bank Stadium had hosted some smaller events in recent weeks, including Chelsea's clash with AC Milan in the International Champions Cup last month, but this game marked the debut for the arena's main tenants.

They scored the first points at their new home when Blair Walsh split the uprights on a 23-yard field goal but it would be the Chargers celebrating the historic first US Bank Stadium touchdown.

San Diego had fallen 6-0 down to a second Walsh field goal from 33 yards but it was Chargers running back who produced the first touchdown with a superb 39-yard run.

They moved 10-6 in front with a Josh Lambo field goal, but the Vikings would end the first half in front thanks to a superbly worked two-minute drill.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater engineered a drive which was capped by his 27-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph.

They tacked on another eight points early in the second half when wide receiver MyCole Pruitt fumbled a catch inside the five yard line but it was picked up by Cordarrelle Patterson and run into the endzone for a score. Laquon Treadwell hauled in a pass for the two-point conversion.

With most starters long gone from the game, points were hard to come by after that score with a solitary Walsh field goal in the fourth quarter ensuring their 23-10 victory.

Bridgewater completed 12 of his 16 pass attempts for 161 yards and a touchdown with Stefon Diggs having five of those receptions for 71 yards.

There was also a nasty postscript for the Chargers who lost running back Branden Oliver to an Achilles injury that could end his season before it began if diagnosed as a tear.