Manchester United played out a frustrating 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland, with new goalkeeper Sene Lams emerging as the standout performer with a series of crucial saves.
The home side started aggressively, putting United’s defense under sustained pressure. Chamsidine Talbi curled a shot just wide of the post, before Sunderland carved open the United backline with a slick move. Noah Sadiki was through on goal, only to be denied by Lams’ sharp reflexes. United had a free-kick opportunity, but Bruno Fernandes opted to square the ball to Amad, whose curling effort went wide. Lisandro Martínez nearly gifted Sunderland a chance, allowing Brian Brobbey a sight of goal, but Lams again rushed out to smother the danger. Sunderland appealed for a penalty after a cross appeared to strike Amad’s hand, but VAR confirmed the ball hit his body first. In the 28th minute, Matheus Cunha crossed for Joshua Zirkzee, who headed over the bar. Brobbey and Sadiki both threatened the United goal before the break, but Lams was equal to their efforts. Just before halftime, Cunha’s volley took a deflection, and Kobbie Mainoo somehow scuffed his shot from a promising position, missing a golden chance.
The second half saw a slower tempo. Cunha fired a long-range effort over the crossbar. Fernandes played a through ball that deflected into the path of Amad, but his cross failed to find a teammate for a shot on goal. Brobbey tested Lams once more with a powerful strike, which the goalkeeper parried away. United dominated possession but lacked fluidity, a far cry from their performance against Liverpool the previous week. In the 71st minute, Lutsharel Geertruida saw his deflected shot crash against the post. Cunha had two clear opportunities to snatch a winner: first, when unmarked, he chose to pass rather than shoot; then, one-on-one with the keeper, he fired straight at him, wasting the chance.
**Manchester United starting XI:** Lams, Mazraoui, Martínez, Maguire, Shaw, Mount, Mainoo, Fernandes, Amad, Cunha, Zirkzee. **Substitutes:** Dorgu, Mbeumo.