Manchester United defeated Leeds United 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Croke Park on Wednesday night to lift the Boyle Sports Cup in their latest pre-season fixture.
Joshua Zirkzee gave United the lead in the 16th minute after being set up by Bryan Mbeumo, but Leeds responded through Brenden Aaronson in the 29th minute to level the contest. Neither side could find a winner in normal time.
The match was subsequently decided by a penalty shootout. United held their nerve to win 5-4, with Noussair Mazraoui converting the decisive spot-kick to secure the trophy for Michael Carrick’s side.
The victory provided another positive result for United during their preparations for the 2026/27 campaign, with Carrick continuing to assess his squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
The Dublin encounter was also significant because it marked the first club football fixture staged at Croke Park. The 82,000-capacity venue had not hosted a football match since the Republic of Ireland’s 1-0 World Cup play-off defeat to France in 2009.
Around 82,000 supporters attended the sold-out fixture, making it a landmark occasion for football at the iconic GAA stadium.
The match also featured several changes from both sides as the managers continued preparations for the new season. United introduced Bruno Fernandes, Youri Tielemans and Matheus Cunha during the second half as Carrick rotated his squad.
United will now turn their attention to their remaining pre-season preparations before the Premier League campaign begins, while Leeds will also use their final warm-up fixtures to fine-tune their squad.
For United, the penalty victory over their historic rivals means they leave Dublin with the Boyle Sports Cup and another confidence boost before competitive football returns.
