Friendly: KC Wizards 2 Man. United 1

United suffered a first defeat of the North America tour in Kansas City, albeit with major doubts over the legitimacy of Kei Kamara’s winner for the Wizards.

Kamara had earlier set up his captain Davy Arnaud to fire the home side ahead, before Dimitar Berbatov’s penalty - following another debatable decision by referee Terry Vaughn who controversially sent off Jimmy Conrad for his part in the incident - drew the Reds level. Kamara then headed Ryan Smith’s corner past young United goalkeeper Ben Amos, but even TV replays were inconclusive as to whether the whole ball crossed the line.

The 2-1 victory for Kansas City Wizards delighted large sections of the 52,000 crowd at the impressive Arrowhead Stadium, home of the local American football outfit, the Kansas City Chiefs.

Sir Alex Ferguson opted to field a relatively young side, including the likes of Ben Amos, Ritchie De Laet and Mame Biram Diouf, but ensured there was a sprinkling of experience with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Dimitar Berbatov all starting. Nani made his first appearance of the tour having recovered from the collarbone injury which kept him out of the World Cup.

The Portuguese winger was involved in United’s first real attack on 10 minutes. After his free-kick was blocked the ball fell to Scholes who fired a typically well-struck effort goalwards which was well saved by Jimmy Nielsen down to his right.

The Wizards, who had started the brighter of the two sides, sprung a shock a minute later when they took the lead. Kei Kamara threaded a lovely ball into captain Davy Arnaud’s path and the midfielder finished with aplomb into the bottom corner.

Peter Vermes’ side almost doubled their advantage on 23 minutes when Arnaud’s in-swinging cross fell at the feet of the lively Ryan Smith three yards out, but the winger wasn’t able to connect. United survived another scare soon after when Michael Harrington’s floated free-kick into the area was headed inches wide of his own goal by Darron Gibson as he jumped for the ball with Kamara.

Sir Alex’s men were struggling to get into gear and were having trouble maintaining possession, although a lapse in concentration from the Wizards provided Nani with an opening just after the half-hour mark. The winger powered past two players into the area before letting fly, but his shot was well blocked by Nielsen. Nani was thwarted again a minute later when the Danish stopper tipped his header over, while Scholes missed a free header from the resulting corner.

After Amos had saved well down to his left from Teal Bunbury, United were handed a route back into the game on 41 minutes, albeit somewhat controversially. Giggs put Berbatov through on goal before the Bulgarian was sent tumbling to the ground by Jimmy Conrad. Match referee Vaughn pointed to the spot after consulting one of his assistants and gave Conrad his marching orders, but replays appeared to show the Wizards’ defender getting a touch on the ball. Berbatov nonchalantly rolled the spot-kick into Nielsen’s bottom left-hand corner to level proceedings.

The controversy didn’t end there though with the Wizards regaining the lead two minutes later when Kamara rose to meet a Smith corner. His header thumped off the bar and down onto the line, and although the ball didn’t appear to be wholly over the line, the goal was given. Berbatov almost bagged a second equaliser on the brink of half-time but he curled a shot just wide of the far post after a lovely flick from Giggs.

The second half began as the first ended with United on the attack as Diouf latched onto a through ball but the Senegalese striker saw his shot blocked by substitute keeper Eric Kronberg. Thereafter, the Reds were only afforded half chances with Gibson thrashing over from the edge of the area and Danny Welbeck firing wide from Tom Cleverley’s cross.

The Wizards were continuing to threaten at the other end, meanwhile, with Stephane Auvray curling a shot just wide on 67 minutes, before Amos produced a flying save from Jack Jewsbury.

As the clock ticked down, United continued to press. Cleverley, who found himself out on the left wing for the latter part of the game, sent a lovely cross into Federico Macheda but his header was straight at Kronberg.

The ten-man Wizards held out for an historic win as the Reds stumbled for the first time on the tour.

United: Amos; Rafael, Smalling, J.Evans, De Laet (Fabio 76); Nani (Obertan 69), Scholes, Gibson (Cleverley 69), Giggs; Berbatov (Welbeck 76), Diouf (Macheda 69).

Subs not used: Van der Sar, Brown, C.Evans. Booked: Giggs, Gibson.

Chris Smalling starts for United again, and ends up on the losing side for the first time