AC Milan Beat Manchester United 4-2 as Fernandes Misses Penalty in Wroclaw

AC Milan defeated Manchester United 4-2 in Poland, featuring a missed Bruno Fernandes penalty and Marcus Rashford’s first appearance since his Barcelona loan.

AC Milan defeated Manchester United 4-2 in a preseason friendly held in Wroclaw, Poland. The match featured goals from Samuel Chukwueze, Alphadjo Cissè, Gonçalo Ramos, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek for the Italian side, while Harry Maguire and Patrick Dorgu provided the scoring for United. A pivotal moment occurred just before half-time when Bruno Fernandes saw his penalty kick saved by Milan goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani, marking the second consecutive preseason game in which the United captain failed to convert from the spot.

Manchester United established an early lead in the second minute of play. Fernandes delivered a corner kick that Harry Maguire met with a powerful header to find the back of the net. However, Milan, under the management of former United boss Ruben Amorim, leveled the score following a defensive error. Gonçalo Ramos exploited the mix-up to enter the penalty area and provide a square pass to Samuel Chukwueze, who rolled the ball home for the equalizer.

Penalty Drama and Lead Changes

The English side earned a chance to retake the lead before the interval when Koni De Winter was penalized for tugging back Youri Tielemans inside the box. Fernandes, who had missed a spot-kick wide during a midweek shootout against Leeds, opted for accuracy this time. Despite his effort being on target, Torriani dived to his right to successfully parry the shot away.

United did eventually regain the advantage through Patrick Dorgu. The goal originated from a misplaced backpass by Filippo Terracciano, which Dorgu pounced upon to score. Milan responded again to tie the match at 2-2. The second equalizer came after Chukwueze sent a wayward shot toward the far post, where Alphadjo Cissè was positioned to poke the ball into the net.

Rashford Returns and Milan Pulls Ahead

Marcus Rashford made his first appearance for Manchester United since returning from a loan spell in Spain. The forward, who had previously been loaned to Aston Villa and Barcelona after being frozen out by Amorim, entered the match as a substitute at the 60-minute mark. His introduction did not prevent Milan from taking their first lead of the contest eight minutes later. In the 68th minute, Chukwueze turned provider, sending in a cross that Ramos headed home to make it 3-2.

AC Milan secured the two-goal margin in the 71st minute. Former Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek broke through the United defense to strike the fourth goal for the Rossoneri. The result leaves United reflecting on missed opportunities in Wroclaw as they continue their preseason preparations under Michael Carrick, who has recently steadied the club following Amorim's departure.

Match Statistics and Kit Debut

Lorenzo Torriani’s penalty save proved decisive in maintaining momentum for the Italian club throughout the four-goal performance. United’s offensive output relied heavily on set pieces and capitalizing on defensive lapses, such as the Terracciano error. The fixture also served as a platform for United to showcase their new 2026-27 third kit, which draws inspiration from an iconic local club. The defeat in Poland follows United's recent midweek outing against Leeds, highlighting ongoing struggles with clinical finishing from twelve yards out for the team captain.