体坛英语新闻：Manchester United scrapes 2-2 draw with Cerezo Osaka

TOKYO, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Manchester United equalized with the last kick of the game to draw 2-2 with Cerezo Osaka on Friday as their preseason Asia tour nears completion.

Wilfried Zaha's last-minute equalizer saved the blushes of new boss David Moyes and ensured that the Premier League champions didn't fall to their third defeat in four games on their Asia Tour- - just weeks before the title-holders' Premiership campaign kicks off.

United played well from the back, through midfield to release their strikers from the get-go, but it was local side Cerezo Osaka who got on the score sheet first in muggy conditions better suited to the local side in Osaka.

United's Chris Smalling, in a school boy error-esque fashion, tried to dribble the ball out of his own penalty area and was unceremoniously dispossessed by Cerezo's Kenyu Sugimoto, who fired his left-footed shot hard and low past United's Lindegaard from 12- yards.

United struggled to hit back with ace-striker Robin van Persie denied on two clear-cut chances by local keeper Kim Jin Hyeon and United's Japanese superstar Shinji Kagawa blazed over from 6-yards in the 42nd minute.

Kagawa redeemed himself in the second-half however, having already missed a penalty -- much to the dismay of the youngster's local and international fans -- turning in a Ryan Giggs low cross at the near post to slot home beneath Kim Jin Hyeon.

But United failed to capitalize on their momentum and Cerezo retook the lead midway through the second half.

Akumi Minamino collected the ball on the edge of the box and curled a sweetly struck right-footed shot into the top corner, much to the delight of the capacity crowd in Osaka.

United looked set for defeat, but were rescued by substitute Wilfried Zaha one minute into stoppage time with Zaha coolly redirecting a square pass into the back of the net from close range.

"I'm glad I somehow scored in the end. That's about it, really, " Kagawa said after the final whistle.

"I have to admit I was a bit uneasy about taking the penalty. But as it turns out, I managed to score in open play after that so maybe I was meant to miss it," he told local media.

"I know my teammates fairly well now so there is an understanding. The season's already started as far as I'm concerned. The race is on," he added.

David Moyles praised the efforts of his team ahead of their final game in Hong Kong against China's FC Kitchee, in the run-up to the Premiership kicking off.

"I thought the team played very well," the Red Devil's new boss said. "I'm delighted we scored a late goal."

"I'm still getting to know my players. I have several players back home who I haven't met yet because of international duties. I don't know, I don't have it in my head yet," said Moyles.

"We have three games before the season starts when we get back to Europe, and we'll look at that," said the Scotsman.