United fielded a relatively strong starting eleven; ASEAN All Stars team are only a mix of players who have played together only once before
Manchester United saw their turbulent season take another hit on Wednesday as Ruben Amorim’s side were beaten 1-0 by the ASEAN All Stars in Kuala Lumpur.
Returning to Malaysia for the first time in 16 years, the match was intended to kick off United’s commercial tour of Asia, but instead delivered another disappointing moment in what has been a season full of them.
Myanmar international Maung Maung Lwin scored the only goal of the match midway through the second half, capitalising on a lapse in United’s defensive line to slip in behind and slot past Tom Heaton.
While the result has no competitive consequences, it comes just days after the club finished a challenging 2024-25 campaign with a 15th-place Premier League finish and a defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final, leaving United without European football for the first time in over a decade.
The ASEAN All Stars team are only a mix of international players and top talents from domestic leagues across the 12 ASEAN Football Federation countries. They have played together only once before in 2014.
Leading the side was Malaysia’s national team captain Sergio Aguero – no relation to the famous Argentine striker.
Though only a goodwill fixture, the game has drawn attention for its unexpected result. United fielded a relatively strong starting eleven for the first half before manager Ruben Amorim made wholesale changes after the break, bringing on a full set of substitutes, including young academy players.
United’s trip to Southeast Asia, though met with scepticism by some supporters given the team’s poor form, is part of a broader strategy to re-engage with a significant fanbase in the region and fulfil sponsorship obligations.
