ASEAN All-Stars show surprise to Red Devil fans after winning Manchester United scoring 1-0 in the Maybank Challenge Cup 2025 at Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.
From the opening whistle, Kim Sang-sik’s men showed they were not there to simply make up the numbers. Nguyen Hai Long caused trouble early, bursting through the middle but firing wide, although the move was eventually flagged offside. The Vietnamese midfielder also had a powerful free-kick effort that sailed over Andre Onana’s bar.
Amani Aguinaldo had the first clear-cut chance in the 17th minute but couldn’t keep his volley down. The breakthrough still seemed elusive—until Sandro Reyes forced Onana into a save, pushing the ball into a dangerous area before United cleared the danger.
Despite controlling possession, Manchester United looked flat and disjointed for large parts of the match. Manager Ruben Amorim made four changes by the half-hour mark, handing the armband to Kobbie Mainoo, but the fresh legs brought little rhythm.
Mainoo did come closest to opening the scoring for United, twice threatening the ASEAN goal—once with a long-range drive palmed wide by Thai goalkeeper Patiwat Khammai, and another blocked heroically on the line by Harrison Delbridge.
Jaydan Kamason and Patrick Dorgu added urgency late in the half, but their efforts were either off-target or easily handled. United’s frustration grew as Alejandro Garnacho was wrongly flagged offside, denying a clear chance that would have set up Chido Obi for a likely tap-in.
Against the run of play, the moment that would shake the stadium arrived. In the 71st minute, Adrian Segecic slid a pinpoint pass inside Godwill Kukonki, and Maung Maung Lwin timed his run perfectly before rifling a first-time shot past Tom Heaton. The Myanmar talisman celebrated with teammates as the stadium erupted.
From there, it was a resolute defensive stand by the All-Stars, repelling everything United threw at them. Amad Diallo’s free-kick lacked sting, and late efforts from Jim Thwaites, Obi, and Garnacho were either blocked, off target, or swallowed by Khammai.
Credit Photo : Simon Yap/SNE-Photo
