Chaos At Croke Park: Fans Invade Pitch In Man United Draw With Leeds

Man United celebrates goal against Leeds United

Manchester United and Leeds play out entertaining friendly, pitch invaders stop the game. Zirkzee and Aaronson score as Man United beat Leeds 5-4 on penalties in Dublin.

Man United win shootout after draw With Leeds in front of 80,000 at Croke Park...

Manchester .United’s pre-season clash with Leeds at Dublin’s Croke Park on Wednesday finished in strange circumstances. With normal time almost up, two young supporters ran onto the pitch to grab selfies with Bruno Fernandes.

Security didn’t step in right away, and at least three more fans followed them on. Referee Neil Doyle decided not to restart the game and blew the full-time whistle instead.

It was the first football match at the GAA’s home ground since 2009, and a capacity crowd of over 80,000 packed Croke Park for the occasion.

The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes. Joshua Zirkzee put United ahead in the 16th minute, but Leeds hit back just before the half-hour when Brenden Aaronson finished off a move created by ex-United winger Daniel James.

Manchester United then won the shootout 5-4, with Noussair Mazraoui converting the decisive penalty.

“First half we were really dangerous and could've had a number of goals,” United manager Michael Carrick told ITV. “We played some really good football.

“They came back into the game, and in the second half there were a few changes and it was important to get some minutes in some of our lads.

“The young lads did well, it was everything we expected of them. Winning the game is always nice.”

Fernandes missed his penalty before it went to sudden death. But after James Justin hit the crossbar, Mazraoui stepped up and sealed the win for United.

Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford were all in the stands instead of on the pitch. They had only linked up with the squad at the start of the week following World Cup duty.

Speaking before kick-off, Carrick said he was keeping the three “in reserve” for Saturday’s friendly against his former boss Ruben Amorim and AC Milan in Wroclaw, Poland. It could also be Rashford’s first United appearance since December 2024.

“He's come back great, like any other player. I've known him a long time, he gives us something a bit different.

“He's been in great spirits since he's come back.”

Penalty shootout win = secured! ✅🎯

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 12, 2026

Both sides made a string of half-time changes, with 18-year-old winger Tynan Thompson coming on to make his United debut. Leeds had a golden chance six minutes into the second half when Joe Rodon’s low cross picked out Harry Wilson, but the summer arrival fired straight at Senne Lammens.

Fernandes was one of six United players introduced on the hour mark. He had one goal ruled out for offside, then rattled the crossbar with a curling strike five minutes from full-time.