Manchester United suffered both a loss and a loss of composure during their US Tour, as tensions ran high in the scorching desert.
The first half proved to be a rollercoaster ride for the young talent Omari Forson, who was abruptly substituted by an infuriated Erik ten Hag after engaging in a heated altercation with Karim Adeyemi.
The drama continued when Donyell Malen swiftly scored his second goal within a minute, propelling Borussia Dortmund into the lead.
This prompted Brandon Williams to engage in a heated exchange of words, laced with expletives, with goalkeeper Tom Heaton.
The intensity did not subside in the second half either, as Harry Maguire faced a volley of criticism from new goalkeeper Andre Onana.
The match had started auspiciously for Manchester United, with Diogo Dalot gracefully curling a stunning opener into the net from 20 yards, courtesy of Donny van de Beek’s impeccable assist.
However, the euphoria was short-lived as 19-year-old prodigy Forson became embroiled in a scuffle. Having attempted to tackle Adeyemi, Forson later lashed out at Julian Ryerson, resulting in a burst of fury.
Both Forson and Adeyemi were cautioned by the referee, prompting Ten Hag to immediately signal Antony to warm up on the sidelines.
Within minutes, Forson was substituted and received a stern talking-to from Ten Hag, who pointed out his mistakes on the field. Clearly distressed, Forson trudged towards the dugout, only to be comforted by a pat on the head from his coach.
In the 43rd minute, Dortmund leveled the scoreline when Adeyemi expertly maneuvered around United’s defense, setting up Malen for a magnificent scissor-kick finish.
Unfortunate circumstances arose for United when goalkeeper Heaton’s lapse in judgment handed Malen his second goal on a silver platter.
Williams, slow to react and playing Malen offside, compounded the situation by turning towards Heaton and directing an expletive-laden tirade at him.
Maguire soon became the target of Onana’s criticism due to his questionable positioning, further exposing United’s shambolic defending throughout the night.
However, the Red Devils managed to salvage some pride on the 52nd minute when Antony unleashed an elegant curling shot into the far bottom corner, equalizing the scoreline.
Around the 60-minute mark, Ten Hag made eight changes to the lineup, hoping to turn the tide in United’s favor.
Marcus Rashford embarked on a promising run down the left flank and delivered a precise cross, but Aaron Wan Bissaka wasted the opportunity with a wayward shot, much to his dismay.
The woes continued for Bissaka in the 71st minute when he carelessly relinquished possession, allowing Dortmund to execute seamless passing that culminated in Youssoufa Moukoko converting from close range, subsequently securing the winning goal.
Following the final whistle, a disheartened Manchester United bid farewell to Las Vegas, having suffered their third consecutive tour defeat, succumbing to losses against Real Madrid (0-2) and Wrexham (1-3).
It was a grueling pre-season tour, marked by scorching temperatures and extensive travel, which effectively took its toll on the team.