Borussia Dortmund punished Manchester United’s defensive lapses on Sunday as the English Premier League giants wrapped up their North American tour with a 3-2 defeat to the Bundesliga side in Las Vegas.Erik Ten Hag’s team was guilty of multiple sins in the famed Sin City – and their sins included poor defending, lapses in concentration, and fighting among each other. Youn Omari Forson was substituted, Brandon Williams was involved in a big argument with goalkeeper Tom Heaton, and new boy Andre Onana chastised Harry Maguire. Besides, three goals were shipped.Forson, the 18-year-old winger, was removed by Ten Hag after 37 minutes for kicking out at Dortmund’s Julian Ryerson and tangling with Karim Adeyemi. Ryerson had informed the linesman, luring Ten Hag onto the pitch as they shared verbals. Forson was booked and Antony was immediately ordered to warm up, and he replaced the youngster a few minutes later. Ten Hag held a 33-second debrief with the young London-born winger and ended it by patting him on the head. United were at least ahead. Come the end of the half, they were behind.Man United lose 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund in Las Vegas. Second choice team but still some calamitous defending to throw away three goals. US tour ends with three defeats from four games, although one was a youth team vs Wrexham. Team heading back to Manchester tonight. pic.twitter.com/ztqP8p2xdE— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonESPN) July 31, 2023 A second-half strike by Dortmund substitute Youssoufa Moukoko proved the difference in an entertaining clash at the Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.Ten Hag named a virtual reserve team to start, leaving the likes of Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and new signing Mason Mount on the bench. Yet United’s makeshift starting eleven was more than a match for Dortmund in the first half, dominating for long periods before Diogo Dalot handed the Red Devils the lead on 24 minutes with a long-range strike. But Dortmund turned the game on its head in the closing minutes of the first half, with two goals in a minute from Netherlands international forward Donyell Malen.##NAJAVA_MECA_7401741##The first came when United’s defence failed to close down Karim Adeyemi’s burst down the right. Despite the attention of a cluster of United defenders, Adeyemi was able to square for Malen, who hooked in from close range. Malen grabbed his second a minute later, seizing on a United howler when Victor Lindelof lost possession inside the area trying to pass out from the back. Williams blamed his goalie and shouted at Heaton, “It’s your fu*k up”. Heaton wouldn’t keep silent, so he marched out of his area and bit back.United were lucky not to go 3-1 down in the opening minutes of the second half, when another defensive slip, this time by Harry Maguire, allowed Sebastien Haller a shot on goal. United goalkeeper Andre Onana saved and then watched in relief as Adeyemi blasted the follow-up wide with the goal gaping. The Cameroonian then made a beeline for Maguire and gave him a telling-off for poor defending.Onana realised that Maguire is a liability in only two matches 😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/861p03jCTr— IZizuo… (@dezizuoo) July 31, 2023 United did get back on level terms in the 52nd minute when Antony swept home a low shot from inside the area after a poor clearance by Dortmund veteran Mats Hummels. Ten Hag rang in the changes with 30 minutes remaining, with Rashford instantly providing more of an attacking threat. But it was Dortmund who scored the decisive goal, with veteran Marco Reus working a clever opening to set up Moukoko for the winner.It’s been three losses in four pre-season tests for Manchester United. Although results at this stage don’t mean much, the team’s lack of cohesion could prove fatal when the Premier League kicks off. Ten Hag was back in the dressing room shortly after the final whistle in Las Vegas – with much to ponder. United’s first EPL fixture is in two weeks.
