David Nugent Leicester City
David Nugent's penalty in the 62nd minute started Leicester City's rally and 5-3 victory over Manchester United Sunday. Reuters

In his first start for Manchester United, forward Radamel Falaco quickly made his mark and helped the Red Devils build an early lead, but mental defensive blunders ultimately led to a stunning 5-3 loss to Leicester City Sunday at King Power Stadium.

The Colombian talisman assisted Robin van Persie’s first goal of the Premier League term and United were poised to claim their second victory of the season, after goals from Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera built the lead to 3-1 by the 57th minute.

However Falcao’s presence did nothing to erase United’s defensive inadequacies. Defender Rafael conceded a penalty after committing a bad foul on Leicester forward Jamie Vardy, and David Nugent’s penalty closed the gap to 3-2 in the 62nd minute.

Two minutes later Esteban Cambiasso knotted the match at 3-3 all with his left-footed strike and United couldn’t retake the lead. Vardy netted the go-ahead in the 79th off a fastbreak assist from Ritchie de Laet, and forward Jose Ulloa, who scored Leicester’s only goal of the first half, also netted a penalty after Tyler Blackett was sent off for a rough foul on Vardy in the 83rd minute.

Manager Louis van Gaal slowly worked Falcao into his attack, using him as a substitute in last week’s 4-0 blasting of Queens Park Rangers. But Van Gaal might have little reason to hold Falcao out of the starting line from now on.

Establishing his presence early, Falco lifted a cross to Van Persie inside the Leicester box and the Dutch powered through a header for the 1-0 advantage in the 13th minute.

Three minutes later Angel Di Maria picked up his second goal of the term with a left-footed shot and assist from Wayne Rooney, who started the match in midfield to presumably make room for Falaco.

However unstoppable United seemed from the start, Leicester wouldn’t lay down. Ulloa scored his fourth goal of the term, moving him into second in the league behind Chelsea’s Diego Costa.

The Argentine squeezed off a header at close range after forward Jamie Vardy barely fired off his cross before United’s goal line in 18th minute, keeping pressure on United throughout the first half though it proved to the Foxes only shot on goal in the first 45 minutes.

Full highlights are below.