I agree with OP. Trump's performance was disappointing for these reasons:

• At times, he had energy, but overall looked tired
• When Harris was speaking, he often looked angry (I DGAF, but normies do)
• He whiffed badly on the black question, and I think that will hurt him
• Towards the end, he had a vague answer about his plan, which sounded like he would come up with a plan after election -- not a good look

He was on the defensive a lot, but his counter-punches were not great, for the most part.

He might have been taken by surprise by the "Central Park 5" claim.

I didn't know about it, but here is the overall story --

• White woman jogging in Central Park was brutally attacked, raped repeatedly, and left for dead.
• Lost 75% of her blood.
• Eyes had to be re-attched.
• We're talking animalistic type of brutality.
• She was comatose, and when conscious, could not remember anything.
• This was at a time in NYC with a very high crime wave going on.
• Public was outraged.
• 5 teenagers (15-16 years old) were suspected in a nearby robbery of a man, and also charged with this crime -- all 5 were black or hispanic.
• They all admitted to the crime, on video at police HQ.
• Trump ran a full-page ad in the newspaper saying to bring back the death penalty.
• Later, the 5 recanted their guilty plea, and pled not guilty, claiming their confessions were coerced.
• 2 trials found all 5 guilty.
• More than 10 years later, another man, who was in prison on multiple rape charges, said he was the one who really did it.
• DNA confirmed.
• The 5 were let out of prison.
• Media used the story to claim Trump and others were racist, and that was why they said the 5 were guilty (never mind the confessions or the 2 criminal trials).
• The man who was ultimately guilty was hispanic, so still a non-White on White crime, regardless.

One of the (many) problems with these "debates" is there is little time to correct false claims and set the record straight.

His response seemed to me that he was not prepared for that one.

I think it is a bad look, and could become a problem.

He will have to explain.

Overall, Harris was average, but she had help from moderators.

Trump needed a better performance, IMO, to keep the momentum strong.