Sunderland 1-1 Manchester United - Match Report

Juan Mata grabbed his first of the season.

Louis van Gaal has managed Manchester United twice in competitive games and has yet to taste the sweetness of victory.

Juan Mata's goal was not enough to earn Manchester United a win after Sunderland secured a deserved 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.

Mata put Louis van Gaal's men ahead against the run of play midway through the first half, before the Black Cats got back on level terms on the half-hour with former Manchester City midfielder Jack Rodwell grabbing his first goal since moving to Wearside earlier in the transfer window.

Chances were few and far between in the second half with United enjoying more possession of the ball. But they rarely threatened to add a second and had to settle for a share of the spoils as Van Gaal waits for his first win since taking over from David Moyes in the Old Trafford hot-seat this summer.

It is two successive draws for Gus Poyet's men who were well worthy of their point from this game.

Sunderland enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges as United's players seemed edgy in possession of the ball inside their own half.

The hosts could have gone in front in the 16th minute when Darren Fletcher conceded possession to Seb Larsson in the middle of the park and he fed Will Buckley down the right.

The Black Cats' home debutant picked out the run off Connor Wickham who created an opening down the left side of the United box but his shot lacked any power to really trouble David de Gea.

The hosts were made to pay for that as United broke up the field to take the lead a minute later.

Antonio Valencia did well down the right and his low cross from the right took a slight deflection off a defender's outstretched boot and it fell perfectly to Mata at the back post for a simple finish from six yards.

Wickham went close on 28 minutes when he turned Phil Jones and let the ball roll onto his right foot before firing just wide of the post from 25 yards.

Two minutes later the Black Cats got the equaliser their play deserved.

A Larsson corner from the right was met by Rodwell who got above Valencia and powered his header past De Gea from the middle of the area.

United were awarded a free kick just outside the area four minutes later after Rodwell brought down Tom Cleverley, but Wayne Rooney wasted the chance to put his side back in front as he curled his effort over the wall and wide of the upright.

Sunderland had the first real chance of the second half on 51 minutes when Wickham brought the ball down inside the area and moved away from Michael Keane before hitting a right-foot strike at goal. Tyler Blackett was well placed on the line and just about managed to divert the shot just wide of the post.

United had a couple of quick penalty appeals ignored just after the hour mark when Santiago Vergini got a slight touch to knock the ball away from Robin van Persie inside the area before Ashley Young was booked for diving following a challenge from Wes Brown.

On 75 minutes Larsson was a few yards wide of the near post when he curled a free kick over the wall from just outside the area, while Mannone did well to race out of his box to clear the danger as Young looked for a run at goal three minutes later.

United pressed late on and almost got a chance to win it on 88 minutes when Brown could only head a Young cross from the left into the body of Wayne Rooney but the ball bounced away from him and into the hands of Mannone.