Manchester United managed to conjure up one more embarrassing display at the end of a humiliating season, losing 1-0 to the ASEAN All Stars in the first game of their end-of-season tour of Asia.
Boss Ruben Amorim made changes throughout on a sweltering night in Kuala Lumpur but started with a line-up that included eight full internationals while Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo all came off the bench at half-time.
Our starting XI for today’s game! 📋🔴#MUFC || #MUTOUR25
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 28, 2025
It seemed a fairly drab encounter would end goalless in front of an enthusiastic crowd of over 71,000 only for Maung Maung Lwin to burst through and score after 71 minutes.
The All Stars, founded by the ASEAN Football Federation in 2014 and made up of South-East Asia internationals and selected players from the regional leagues, held on to register a famous win with their only other fixture, against Indonesia 11 years ago, ending in a 1-0 defeat.
Quiet opening half hour
The first half hour was fairly even with both sides creating plenty of half-chances without either goalkeeper being tested.
That changed on 30 minutes when the hosts’ gradual pressure finally enabled Sandro Reyes to get a shot away but Andre Onana parried the ball into his six-yard box from where it was cleared.
Amorim made his first batch of changes shortly afterwards with Jack Moorhouse, Diogo Dalot, Casemiro and Harry Maguire all heading off to be replaced by the youthful quartet of Sekou Kone, Jaydan Kamason, Dan Armer and Shea Lacey.
The changes improved a lethargic United side and they came close six minutes before half-time, Kobbie Mainoo’s close-range volley beating the keeper but hitting a covering defender and bouncing clear.
United threatened again before the break with Rasmus Hojlund denied by a last-ditch tackle and Patrick Dorgu seeing his follow-up effort blocked.
Defeat in Malaysia.#MUFC || #MUTOUR25
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 28, 2025
Amorim sends for creative sparks
Fernandes, Garnacho and Diallo were among several players introduced at the interval. And Portugal midfielder Fernandes came close after the hour mark with a fizzing volley that flashed over the bar.
United were getting on top with Fernandes and Amad looking particularly lively and it seemed a goal was coming.
It duly arrived, but at the other end.
Adrian Segecic played the ball through to Myanmar international Lwin, who plays his club football in Thailand for Lamphun Warriors, and he showed admirable poise to fire past goalkeeper Tom Heaton and into the net.
Amad curled a free-kick straight at the All-Stars’ goalkeeper and Fernandes saw a shot charged down as United went in search of an equaliser.
But it was the hosts who came closest in the closing minutes with a brilliant saving challenge from Jim Thwaites denying Segecic on the counter.
United now fly to Hong Kong to play their national team on Friday.
