Owen lifts Manchester United in Barca friendly

Michael Owen scored in the 76th minute to lift Manchester United to a 2-1 victory over Barcelona on Saturday in a friendly football match that reprised their clash in the Champions League final.

Nani opened the scoring in the 22nd minute for English Premier League champions Manchester United, who were dominated 3-1 by the Spanish giants in the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley in May.

Thanks to the stature of the clubs, FedEx Field in suburban Washington - home of the NFL’s Redskins - drew a crowd of 81,807, the largest for a football match in the area’s history.

Tom Cleverley set up Owen’s goal, intercepting Sergio Busquets’ pass intended for Seydou Keita and racing toward the goal before finding Owen, who lofted the ball over Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes.

Six minutes earlier Thiago Alcantara had equalised, blasting into the top corner of the goal after winger Carlos Carmona had cut inside and slotted a pass through.

The victory completed a perfect US tour for Manchester United, who return to England after five victories in their five friendlies.

Barcelona, who are without two-time Fifa Player of the Year Lionel Messi as well as Daniel Alves, Javier Mascherano and Alexis Sanchez for their US tour, travel to Miami on Sunday to face Mexico’s Chivas Guadalajara in the second match of their North American pre-season tour.