Man United jolted by earthquake and defeat by Antlers
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-28 21:11

Manchester United were jolted by an earthquake and two goals from Masashi Motoyama as they lost 2-1 to Japan's Kashima Antlers in a pre-season friendly on Thursday, the Reuters reported.

English club Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo (L) reacts after missing a shot during an exhibition soccer match against Japan's J-League club Kashima Antlers at Tokyo's National Stadium July 28, 2005. Kashima Antlers beat Manchester United 2-1. Manchester United's John O'Shea is seen in the rear. [Reuters]

A mild tremor rattled Tokyo's National Stadium early in the first of United's two pre-season games in Japan and the visitors were also stunned after five minutes when Japan midfielder Motoyama lashed a left-foot volley past goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Ryan Giggs swept in a Cristiano Ronaldo cross to equalise three minutes later but Motoyama restored Kashima's lead with a carbon-copy of his first goal in the 24th minute.

England forward Wayne Rooney went close with a fierce drive on the hour mark and Ronaldo headed wide from point-blank range in the 71st minute as United pressed for an equaliser.

They paid for their wastefulness, however, with strikers Louis Saha and Ruud van Nistelrooy also guilty of glaring misses.

New signing Park Ji-sung came on as a 70th-minute substitute for Ronaldo and he too missed a simple chance when he blazed over from close range.

The South Korea midfielder left the pitch moments later nursing a cut to his face after colliding with Antlers goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata.

Park scored his first goal for United in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Beijing Guo'an.

The Premier League team opened their Asian pre-season tour with a 2-0 victory over Hong Kong's national side last weekend.

They play Urawa Reds, Japan's best-supported side, in Saitama on Saturday.

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