Leicester 5-3 Man Utd: Defensive Blunders Put Inspired 'Van Gaalacticos' Performance In Vain
Inspired performances by Manchester United's Angel di Maria, Ander Herrera, and Radamel Falcao, who are dubbed as "Van Gaalacticos," were put in vain by their side's defensive blunders, costing them the game against Leicester City.
The re-promoted Foxes typified what it was to be an underdog going into the match and were expected to give the Red Devils a field day, so to speak, regardless of the latter's recent troubles.
Falcao turned provider as Robin van Persie headed home the opening goal after 13 minutes, while Di Maria followed up after three minutes.
Opposition's Leonardo Ulloa was able to respond due to poor marking inside the box, making it 2-1. Twelve minutes after the break, Ander Herrera and the £60million signing, Di Maria, conspired to make it 3-1.
It seemed like the Premier League giants were well on their way to clinch the win at that point, but right-back Rafael, who failed to mark Ulloa earlier, conceded a penalty, which was converted by David Nugent. From then on, the Filbert Way outfit never looked back.
Man-of-the-match Jamie Vardy laid-off the ball to Esteban Cambiasso just inside the middle of the box for a left-footed shot, with the former capping it off with a goal following an interception and assist by Ritchie de Laet.
Ulloa made it 5-3 from the spot after United centre-back Tyler Blackett was sent off following a clumsy challenge inside the penalty zone on Vardy.
Meanwhile, manager Louis van Gaal was very disappointed with how his squad performed, to say the least, insisting that the setback was not due to a lack of quality personnel at the back, but was rather due to poor team coordination.
"It is not good because we had the game in our pocket and gave it away. Not because of Leicester; we gave it away and I don't like that," said the 63-year-old.
"We have too many players who want to seek for the goal."
"You cannot say the defence was weak."
"You play like a team, Leicester showed that. We did not play like a team in the second half and that is not only defence."
"In a defensive situation the whole team is responsible, not just one defender."
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