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Wednesday 28 May 2025 15:45
Manchester United lost 1-0 to ASEAN All-Stars in the Maybank Challenge Cup friendly game in Malaysia.
Muang Maung Lwin’s 71st-minute strike proved decisive as Reds head coach Ruben Amorim gave time on the pitch to all of his matchday squad, bar goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, ensuring a blend of youth and experience got some minutes in front of a crowd of 72,520.
In sweltering conditions, this was never going to be a high-octane clash, but there will be frustration with the failure to reward the supporters present with at least a goal for their favourites in the Bukit Jalal Stadium.
Rasmus Hojlund led the line from the off in Kuala Lumpur.
FIRST HALF – NO GOALS
Hai Long Nguyen caused a few issues in the early stages, running through to fire wide when being flagged offside, in any case, and then smashing a free-kick over Andre Onana’s goal.
The first decent opportunity came in the 17th minute, when Amani Aguinaldo failed to keep his shot down, after the ball bounced to him in a promising position, as the defender flashed a powerful attempt off target.
An opening shot on target came from Sandro Reyes, with Onana pushing it out into a dangerous area, but, thankfully, there was no harm done as the Reds were able to clear our lines.
Four changes were made on the half-hour mark, with Kobbie Mainoo taking over the captain’s armband from Harry Maguire, and there was a disjointed feel to proceedings.
And it was Mainoo who looked likeliest to break the deadlock in the following period of play, seeing a long-ranger palmed wide for a corner by Thailand international keeper Patiwat Khammai. Four minutes later, the midfielder had an effort blocked on the line by defender Harrison Delbridge, after he had won the initial free-kick out on the left.
Jaydan Kamason seemed keen to impress, hammering a drive over the top after displaying neat skill, and bursting into the box in stoppage time. Rasmus Hojlund collected the cross eventually and played the ball back to Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, whose shot was deflected into Khammai’s grateful arms.
SECOND HALF – REDS COME UNSTUCK
It took nearly until the hour mark for the Reds to register a noteworthy effort after the break, despite dominating possession. Bruno Fernandes showed good technique with a volley from Delbridge’s headed clearance but it was some way off target.
Alejandro Garnacho was wrongly called offside when streaking onto a Jonny Evans through ball, depriving United of a rare clear opening as he would have teed Chido Obi up for the finish, but for the whistle sounding. When Obi did get a shot in, it was a tame one and Delbridge was able to control it before clearing.
The breakthrough came in the 71st minute, as Lwin latched onto Adrian Segecic’s pass inside Godwill Kukonki and made no mistake with an unerring first-time strike, the Myanmar captain leaving Tom Heaton with no chance.
In response, Amorim’s men did carve out a series of half-chances, without really appearing likely to equalise. Amad’s free-kick lacked power and preceded other shots by Jim Thwaites and Obi, following neat play by Harry Amass and Garnacho, and Amad was ruled offside when shanking a volley from a Fernandes pass.
Garnacho hammered a drive way over the top and had a shot blocked, in stoppage time, as there was no way through.
Indeed, only a brilliant last-ditch tackle by Thwaites denied Segecic a second goal in the dying embers, as the first of our two post-season friendlies ended in defeat, with a match against Hong Kong, China to follow on Friday.
MATCH DETAILS
ASEAN All-Stars starting XI: Khammai; Kan, Aguinaldo, Delbridge, Lambert; Adamson, Aguero, H.L Nguyen, Reyes; Coulibaly, Dukuly.
Substitutes: Manh, V.V Nguyen, Pedro, Davis, Lwin, H.D Nguyen, Rudianto, Bounkong, Segecic, Kanitsribumphen, Azmi, Nadzli, Ra’op, Fandi, Risaldi.
Scorer: Lwin 71.
United: Onana (Heaton 46); Munro (Fredricson 46), Maguire (c) (Armer 30 (Evans 46)), Heaven (Kukonki 46); Dalot (Kamason 30 (Amad 46)), Casemiro (Kone 30 (Collyer 46)), Ugarte (Fernandes 46), Dorgu (Amass 46); Moorhouse (Lacey 30 (T. Fletcher 46 (Thwaites 67)), Mainoo (Garnacho 46); Hojlund (Obi 46).
Substitute not used: Bayindir.
Booked: Kukonki.
Attendance: 72,520.
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Wednesday 28 May 2025 15:45
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