MANCHESTER, England – Grenadian international Shandon Baptiste struck a cracking early goal as English Premier League new boys Brentford held their more illustrious rivals Manchester United to a 2-2 draw in a friendly before 30,000 fans on a rainy Wednesday night at Old Trafford.
Grenadian international Shandon Baptiste.It was one of four great strikes on the night that provided both clubs with a good workout ahead of next month’s start to the new season which will see Brentford – nicknamed the Bees – back in the top flight for the first time in 74 years.
Midfielder Baptiste, 23, who moved to England from Grenada at the age of three and has made three appearances for the Caribbean nation, rifled home an edge-of-the-box dipper to beat goalkeeper Tom Heaten in the 20th minute to cancel out 19-year-old Anthony Elanga’s 12th-minute opener.
Baptiste’s breathtaking strike came after United failed to clear a corner emphatically enough, Baptiste pouncing on the edge of the area and striking with venom with the outside of his left boot.
Andreas Pereira topped the lot with a superb 50th-minute goal into the top-right corner to rattle in off the crossbar to put the hosts back in front on 50 minutes.
But substitute Bryan Mbeumo had the final say when he curled in an excellent second leveler with his left foot 12 minutes from time after Diogo Dalot failed to cut out a ball down the line.
A youthful United went into the game without their two new signings, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho, but based on this performance Thomas Lord’s Bees will be dangerous this season.
