Manchester United Falters in Final Pre-Season Match Against AC Milan

Manchester United's defense collapsed in their final pre-season friendly against AC Milan, turning a promising performance into a concerning 4-2 defeat just before the Premier League season begins. The team held leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but a rapid-fire three goals from Milan in a 15-minute span sealed the loss.

"A terrible dress rehearsal from Manchester United. What was a good summer ends with warning lights flashing for Michael Carrick and co.'s defense," summarized VG commentator Vegard Aulstad. The team faces newly promoted Hull City in their league opener on August 22.

Adding a notable moment to the match was the return of Marcus Rashford. He played for Manchester United for the first time in 612 days, entering the game about an hour in. Rashford, who has scored 138 goals in 426 appearances for the club, had been on loan to Aston Villa and Barcelona during his absence. Despite his return, he witnessed two late goals conceded by his team.

Earlier in the game, Harry Maguire opened the scoring for United with a header from a Bruno Fernandes corner. Samuel Chukwueze equalized for Milan after a defensive error by United. Fernandes later missed a penalty, keeping the score at 1-1 by halftime. Patrick Dorgu put United back in front after Milan's defensive lapse, but the team's defense ultimately faltered.

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A terrible dress rehearsal from Manchester United. What was a good summer ends with warning lights flashing for Michael Carrick and co.'s defense.