Spirited Urawa no match for battle-hardened Boca Juniors

Boca Juniors 5 Urawa Red Diamonds 2

Not even the presence of former Aston Villa defender Alpay in the Urawa defence was enough to save them from a hammering at the hands of opponents who proved far too slick once they had recovered from an early Emerson penalty.

Certainly, hosts Manchester United would not appear to have much to fear when they tackle the Urawa tomorrow.

The Japanese outfit, backed by a vocal majority in a sparse crowd, were in front inside a minute as Emerson darted into the penalty area and was sent tumbling by keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri.

The Brazilian picked himself up and confidently sent his assailant the wrong way to earn Urawa the first point of the tournament.

While Urawa moved forward with enthusiasm, it soon became apparent that Boca were a far more battle-hardened side and more clinical in their approach.

Two similar goals in four minutes turned the game on its head. On both occasions, Diego Cagna was the provider. The first one, from the right edge of the Urawa penalty box, was nodded home at the far post by Martin Palermo.

The second was met by Fabian Vargas, who fired home a first-time volley.

Urawa battled back gamely and Emerson wasted a couple of chances before picking up a booking for a nasty challenge on Pablo Ledesma.

In the second period, the Argentineans followed one goal with another.

Urawa were still recovering from Franco Cangele curling home an impressive third when Ariel Carreno cut a neat cross back from the right wing which Diego Cagna gleefully smashed into the net.

Matias Silvestre rose unchallenged to head home a corner from former Middlesbrough man Carlos Marinelli with nine minutes remaining, although it was Urawa who had the final word, Takuya Yokohama steering a neat header into the corner to give the vocal Japanese fans something else to cheer.

Manchester United led PSV Eindhoven 1-0 at half-time in their late kick-off.

lFreddie Kanoute grabbed his second goal in successive friendlies but could not prevent Tottenham slipping to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Feyenoord in Seville last night.