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Leading the line for Manchester United is such an unappealing and onerous task that a City reject has rejected them. A United striker finally emerged as their matchwinner in Hong Kong. Chido

Obi, the more frugal and callow Danish striker signing by United, clinically claimed his maiden goal for the first team. Obi replaced Rasmus Hojlund at half-time and took five minutes to

crash the ball into the net. And crash the WiFi. Liam Delap’s decision to join Chelsea over United is merely a stay of execution for Hojlund. United need a proven goalscorer, not one born

four days after Hojlund and jettisoned by City’s academy to a promoted team who Jason Wilcox watched develop. United tried to cut corners with Delap’s release clause when they need a proven

commodity. Obi is not ready for competitive matches but his goals will do him no harm. Just as impressive as his equalising strike was his reaction. He eschewed celebrations in favour of

fishing the ball out of the net. The 17-year-old ought to have converted with one header and the next time he rose to meet the ball he glanced it into the corner. With fan favourites long

since substituted, the crowd in the Hong Kong Stadium switched their affections to Obi. Obi was still pressing intensely in added time. One of United staff’s bugbears with Hojlund is they

reckon he does not exert himself enough. Obi applied himself as though he sensed an opportunity. His tour ended with a man of the match award. His winning goal fuelled such optimism that

there was a rendition of “Glory glory Man United” from the Hong Kong crowd. Whoever United’s starting striker is next season, Obi has had enough time around the first team to at least remain

involved in that set-up for what will be a sparser season without European football. There was little to savour when he scored his first goal as United were 1-0 down again. Their first half

performance was in keeping with their _annus horribilis_; not scoring before conceding. United conceded the first goal in 32 of their 60 competitive games and they have tagged on a couple

more in the post-season. United had 15 attempts to Hong Kong’s one in the first half. No prizes for guessing which side scored. United encountered a Sergio Aguero in Kuala Lumpur. This time,

the namesake of another scourge from their past was on target in Juninho. At least the outcome was different for United this time. The mood was described as “downbeat” after the loss to

ASEAN All-Stars, if you can believe that, and as meaningless as these matches are many at the club will breathe a sigh of relief that they avoided a second defeat in Asia. The players will

not be doom-scrolling on their smartphones when they board their flight back to Manchester on Friday evening. This was certainly a farewell appearance for Jonny Evans and possibly Bruno

Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho. Amorim had been asked at his pre-match press conference whether both would start after Lionel Messi caused a furore in Hong Kong last year by withdrawing

from an Inter Miami exhibition match. Fernandes and Garnacho were in the United line-up that pressed the flesh of local dignitaries. Fernandes elicited cheers when he appeared on the large

screen and there was a hearty cry of "Bruno, Bruno, Bruno" from the crowd as he lined up for a free kick. The adoration was louder for Garnacho on the ball. The United captain was

still his usual self, bickering with Casemiro after his teammate strayed offside for a disallowed goal and advising Harry Amass to chest the ball rather than hopefully stick his leg out.

Fernandes might have signed-off with one of his most audacious United goals but his one-on-one rabona - when one leg is wrapped around the other to poke the ball forward - was repelled.

Hojlund naturally miscontrolled the ball on the follow-up before Jaydan Kamason’s drive was blocked on the line. It sounded suspiciously like a fan wielding a megaphone shouted, “Garnacho,

you’re f*****g s**t.” Garnacho can take criticism to heart and was soon on his haunches on a cool and wet evening. It transpired that the fleeting rendition emanated from a section populated

by Hong Kong fans. The Hong Kong ‘keeper Tse Ka Wing kept out Hojlund and Garnacho before Shea Lacey screwed a clear chance well wide. Lacey was substituted before the half-hour mark yet it

was an achievement for him to be in Asia after a season where he was restricted to four starts for the academy. Starting for the first team was an unexpected reward. For Obi, staying in the

first-team set-up would be his bonus.