Seriki and McCallum fire Sheffield United to friendly win

Levante UD and Sheffield United served up an entertaining pre-season encounter at the Estadi de Cornellà-El Prat on Wednesday afternoon. The friendly got off to a brisk pace with both sides keen to build sharpness ahead of their respective campaigns. Sheffield United made their intentions clear from the outset, and the visitors would dominate the opening exchanges in what shaped up as a competitive 90 minutes.

The Blades struck with devastating early efficiency. Folarin Seriki opened the scoring in just the second minute, catching Levante cold and putting Sheffield United firmly in control. Within minutes, the visitors doubled their advantage when Sam McCallum added a second goal in the seventh minute. Two goals up inside ten minutes, Sheffield United looked to have seized command of the contest before most supporters had settled into their seats.

Levante grew into the match as the first half progressed and began to create problems for the Sheffield United defence. The home side pressed higher up the pitch and gradually worked their way back into contention. That pressure eventually paid dividends when Rubén Brugué pulled one back with a goal in the 80th minute, sparking hope of a comeback. However, Sheffield United held firm in the final ten minutes to secure the 2-1 victory and cap off a successful afternoon's work.

The result handed Sheffield United a morale-boosting win as they prepare for the season ahead, while Levante will take encouragement from their second-half performance despite the defeat. Both clubs will view the fixture as valuable preparation, with Sheffield United's early intensity proving the difference on the day.