28-05-2025
Manchester United suffer shock defeat in Kuala Lumpur
KUALA LUMPUR: Manchester United's pathetic season continued from the English Premier League to Kuala Lumpur.
Here in Malaysia, the fallen English champions, fell again — this time with a shocking 1-0 loss to the Asean All Stars in the Maybank Challenge Cup at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
Amazingly, the Asean All Stars, a hastily assembled team that had less than 48 hours together, did it with just one training session.
The 72,550 fans who came to the stadium to watch the match just because it was featuring Manchester United, must have been left disappointed with the sloppy show from the team from Old Trafford.
The Asean All-Stars started explosively with a goal attempt from Hanoi FC's Nguyen Hai Long in the sixth minute, but the ball veered just wide of the left post. And five minutes later, Hai Long's free kick shot whizzed over the crossbar.
The Red Devils responded with attempts from captain Harry Maguire in the 24th minute and Kobbie Mainoo in the 38th before Asean All-Stars' Sandro Reyes forced Andre Onana into making a diving save with a long range attempt.
In the 71st minute, Asean All Stars' Myanmar forward Maung Maung Lwin, who plays for Thai club, Lamphun Warriors, stunned Manchester United by beating their reserve goalkeeper Tom Heaton after latching onto a cross from Australian Adrian Segecic.
Hai Long had another chance to double Asean All-Stars' score in the 86th minute, but Heaton read his move well with a block.
Before the 8.45pm kickoff, a RM1 million mock cheque was presented to the Yayasan Al-Sultan Abdullah. The brief ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, and other dignitaries.
