Manchester United 2-3 Borussia Dortmund: Magical Malen stars in thrilling game
By Josh Mayne
All of the 11 players who started against Real Madrid were rotated for the start of this fixture, including Diogo Dalot, who gave United the lead in the 24th minute with a stunning curled strike from outside the box finding its way into the top corner. However, a double from Donyell Malen just before the break meant Dortmund were leading at half time.
In the early stages of the second half, Antony manages to find a gap between the defenders to strike the ball low and firm into the bottom corner, levelling the game at 2-2 before substitute Youssoufa Moukoko managed to slide in a winning goal for the German side, topping off thrilling encounter between the two sides in front of 50,887 fans.
First half - Leaving it late
The Red Devils had a handful of moments which could’ve gave them the lead earlier on in the match, with 19-year-old Omari Forsen having his strike pointed wide by Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Karim Adeyemi looked the most likely to break the deadlock forcing veteran keeper Tom Heaton into two saves to keep the game on level terms.
Manchester United’s youngsters were the ones causing Dortmund the largest problems, with the pace of Facundo Pellistri and Omari Forsen keeping the Dortmund fullbacks on their toes for the with their desire to constantly drive with the ball. The opener came from donny Van De Beek laying the ball to Diogo Dalot who strikes about as cleanly as you could wish for, curling the ball past a helpless Kobel from outside the box.
United continued to show dominance throughout the first half, but were struck by a quickfire double for Dutch International Donyell Malen. The first fell kindly to Malen to volley home after a few ricochets off the United defenders. A minute later, Victor Lindelöf’s clearence only found as far as former United loanee Marcel Sabitzer, who calmly fed Malen to slot it past a helpless Tom Heaton.
Second half – Moukoko with the winner
Andre Onana was the only substitute from United going into the second half, and he was called into action quickly saving Sebastian Haller’s low effort to stop United Going further behind. Antony managed to capitalise on a poor clearance from experienced international Mats Hummels, by guiding the ball into the bottom left corner with a firm and composed strike to bring the game back to level terms. Soon after Jadon Sancho was denied a goal against his former club by a super interception from Niklas Sule to keep the game on level terms. After both managers had made an abundance of changes midway through the second half, Marcus Rashford managed to cut the ball back to Aaron Wan Bissaka, who found himself creeping into the box to blaze over the crossbar in a promising position. The Bundesliga Runners-up from last season got back in front when former Dortmund captain Marco Reus managed to square the ball across the penalty area to youngster Youssoufa Moukoko who slides the ball into the bottom left corner, which ended up being the deciding goal in this game to maintain give Dortmund another pre-season victory over United, after also previously being victorious in 2016’s pre-season.