Manchester United stumbled to a 3-2 defeat against Japan’s Yokohama Marinos Tuesday in their second loss in three games under new manager David Moyes.
The English champions fell behind in the very first minute but they recovered to lead 2-1 heading into the second half thanks to Jesse Lindgard’s strike and a Yokohama own goal.
However, Fabio Aguiar headed the scores level before Yoshihito Fujita’s winner three minutes from time removed further gloss from United’s pre-season Asian tour.
So far under Moyes, United have lost 1-0 in Bangkok and won 5-1 in Sydney, and they got off to a horror start in hot and humid conditions in Yokohama.
The game was just one minute old when Brazilian striker Marquinhos latched on to a poor clearance from United custodian David de Gea to fire the hosts in front from inside the box.
The setback stung the Premier League champions and talented Belgian teen Adnan Januzaj nearly put them level with a crisp strike which was just off-target.
Januzaj, 18, then got back to head a chance off the line but it was new signing Wilfried Zaha who orchestrated United’s opener when he drifted past his man into the box.
The ex-Crystal Palace man’s low cross caused mayhem and it was Lindgard on hand to net his third goal in two games, after Saturday’s brace against the A-League All-Stars.
Yokohama handed United the lead when Januzaj, United’s reserve team player of last season, fired a free-kick which came off the unfortunate Masakazu Tashiro and over the line.
But the hosts were back on terms after the break when de Gea failed to deal with a corner and Brazilian defender Fabio Aguiar’s header moved the score to 2-2.
Shinji Kagawa drew a huge cheer when he came on just after the hour-mark, and United’s Japanese playmaker nearly raised the roof when he got clear — but his shot failed to beat the ‘keeper.
Ashley Young hit one into the side-netting but it was Yokohama who had the final word when Fujita swept home the winning goal in the 87th minute.
Moyes, facing the stiff challenge of following Alex Ferguson’s 27-year, trophy-laden reign, now leads his team west for a game against Japan’s Cerezo Osaka on Friday.
Ben
Guest
Fair enough - perhaps I read a little too much into your statement - two in Korea is hardly half a team but having an an injured Nakazawa and unwell Nakamura as well certainly should have thinned the ranks. That it didn't negatively impact the quality of Yokohama's play is a testament to the club's depth and Higuichi's stewardship. I think Ogura has only started once since April and often has gone games without being used even as a sub. I wonder if he is still nursing the injury he picked up early in the season or is simply out of favour.
Matsu
Guest
I didnt say they were ALL in Korea. I just said it was a half strength squad Look at the lineup vs ManU Nakazawa - injured Kurihara - Korea Saito - Korea Nakamura - 31C fever, played 20 minutes Ogura- Played 5 minutes at the end (I dont know why) Thats half the squad already. And if you look at all the subs at half time it is even less than half strength. No exaggeration at all.
Ben
Guest
Matsu, I am certainly not attack the quality of the j-league or disrespecting Yokohama - they are arguably the best team in the league at the moment and deserved the win against manu u. I am instead defending the all-star players against those who would read into the 5-1 scoreline as a slight on those players' abilities. Give the all-star team a preseason, 17 rounds together, a lead up against two top of the table j-league teams, and a directive to the coach to win the man u friendly (rather than just to entertain) and it may have been a different result. Or maybe not - Man U were class. BTW -a slight exaggeration to say that almost of half of Yokohama's starters are playing in the east asia cup.
Matsu
Guest
Good lord, Im starting to wonder if excuse-making might give Rugby Union a run for fourth most popular sport in Australia soon... The comments made above about not comparing apples to oranges were all valid, but this "J.League is in midseason" crap is sheer bollocks. Most J.League teams played full J1 fixtures on July 6th, 10th, 13th, and 17th - four games in 11 days. I dont HAVE to suggest that if the situation was reversed A-League supporters would be wailing about how their players were worn out and the Japanese players were fresh. . . . . I say "I dont have to suggest" it, because all you have to do is dig about four months into the archives of this site and see exactly that excuse being made at the start of the ACL campaign. And that isnt even bringing up the fact that almost half of the usual Marinos starters didnt play. You might have heard about that thing going on over in Korea..... Its true that preseason friendlies arent good ways to evaluate quality, but at least show some respect for the team that beat ManU, instead of trying to make excuses. Its hardly the first time ManU lost to a J.League side (theyve lost by far bigger margins, even fielding much closer-to-full-strength squads. That just reiterates what mahonjt said about fine margins. As far as preseason "upsets" go, its hard to outdo this one (note the lineup employed by the Spanish "visitors"): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnxqiI-9wD4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWQtLanN5qc
matthew_gently
Guest
Not sure if you got the same feed in Australia that I did (I'm currently in South America), but I had to turn it off because every 20 seconds the camera would cut to a lingering close-up of Kagawa. I know he's a star playing in his homeland, but never have I seen a broadcaster try so hard to make a team game all about one player.
Robbie
Roar Pro
Please feel free to read my article!
Nathan of Perth
Guest
I love how no matter what the results are, there is always apparently a way to say "the A-League loses". It's pretty special.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Way to go Yokohama
mahonjt
Guest
Their 'all stars' was basicaly the NT, also mis season and also with weeks of preperation. Man U were also straight of the plane and in a very different cultural environment to one they are used too. Again - no meaningfull comparison. One final point - ange said "lets go play football". This was at once wonderfull AND insane. The All Stars could have set out with a very different approach and have been much better placed to nick a result.
Cameron
Roar Guru
If it wasn't for my comment on another article about the MLS All Stars then I would have.
Post hoc
Guest
1 team in pre-season v 1 team in-season :) I posted without reading below, looks like it has been said alot. Kellet you were wrong, you should have hammered him :)
realfootball
Guest
No indication at all for reasons clearly stated above.
Cameron
Roar Guru
It really doesn't Ralph.
Ralph Nadeer
Roar Rookie
Shows you how far we are still behind Japanese and Thai football.
Boba
Guest
Disagree with the "net negative". One of the reasons I watched the All-Stars game was because the All-Stars line up had a few players from my team playing. I am not so invested in the Liverpool/Victory match - may watch it but probably won't - will check out the highlights. I can't see my team, nor any of the smaller clubs in the A-League hosting a large club anytime soon. So insisting on a club vs club match really only benefits the larger teams - those clubs seem to be able to organise these matches themselves anyway (see Liverpool/Victory). I like the All-Stars concept - maybe with a rebranding though - the A-League XI maybe.
Cameron
Roar Guru
I think he means a real response ;)
realfootball
Guest
The difference in playing a team in mid season cannot be overstated. And a club team, not a bunch of players who have been together one week. Unfortunately, the fact this needs to be said only underscores the fact that the Man U game was a net negative for the A-League competition in the wider public arena. We need to ditch the All Stars concept and club sides should play club sides.
realfootball
Guest
You just did.
Phutbol
Guest
So applying that logic the EPL must be rubbish compared to the J-League? and the Thai league??
Boba
Guest
How much faster was the Yokohama pitch than AAMI?! Would love it if we could see A-League games played on similar surfaces - wishful thinking with shared stadiums. Football United - it is generally accepted that the J-League is of a higher standard than the A-league - it should be, there is no salary cap and the hard and soft infrastructure for the sport in Japan is leaps and bounds ahead of that provided in Australia. Having said that, to draw that conclusion by comparing the two recent Man U games is misplaced - you are not comparing apples with apples. Yokohama is currently third on the table 17 rounds into the current season - they are a club team that plays together weekly, are match fit and in the habit of winning. The A-League All-Stars players are out of season, and had one week to prepare for the match - I don't think anyone really expected them to win (although we did hope). A far better yardstick to gauge the strength of the A-League against the J-League is the ACL - and even that is not without its problems. re: season scheduling. A good way would be for the team at the top of the A-league ladder at the end of January to play the winner of the recently finished J-league - will never happen.