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(Photo by Tom McAtee)

Manchester United 0-2 Crystal Palace: Eagles triumph at Old Trafford

Manchester United’s poor league form continues after a Jean-Phillipe Mateta double was enough to earn three points for Crystal Palace. The Eagles now leapfrog United who drop to 13th in the table. United dominated possession but struggled to create clear cut chances.

Mateta put Palace ahead in the 64th minute, turning the ball in from close range, and added a second just before full time to put the result beyond doubt.

As it happened

Manchester United started the game strongly with plenty of possession in Palace territory, despite having no orthodox number 9 on the pitch. Kobbie Mainoo (playing up front) and Amad provided plenty of pace and athleticism in the forward line, with Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte pulling the strings.

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Mainoo playing forward seemed to free up the England international, as he showed some dynamism in his runs and touches- even hitting the post within ten minutes. The Red Devils had multiple corners but failed to really test Dean Henderson in goal. Even in stoppage time at the end of the half, an overplayed free kick led to Lisandro Martínez blazing the ball over. palace, with the pace of Ismaïla Sarr and Mateta, seemed happy to let United have the ball and try to catch them on the break. The visitors had their fair share of the chances – Tyrick Mitchell sent in several dangerous crosses, including one that was begging for a tap-in that never came. Mateta had the best chance of the half when he was slid through on goal and his dinked effort trickled wide. Replays revealed a fingertip save from Onana.

The second half began much like the first, with United having most of the ball but lacking quality in the final third. Ugarte and Fernandes both tested Henderson in the opening few minutes, but Palace continued to soak up the pressure before striking with pace. They were rewarded in the 64th minute. Just a few minutes after Eberechi Eze was introduced, he placed a freekick perfectly onto Maxence Lacroix’s head. It rebounded off the crossbar for Mateta to tap home.

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Things went from bad to worse for United. Ruben Amorim was forced into a defensive change in the 82nd minute after Martínez twisted his knee awkwardly in the turf. The defender was stretchered off in tears and replaced by Matthijs de Ligt.

To cap off a miserable afternoon, Mateta would double Palace’s lead in the 89th minute. Daniel Muñoz perfectly timed his run to meet a through ball from Sarr, catching United completely off guard. He had plenty of space to square the ball to Mateta, who sealed the win with a first-time finish.

Iliver Glasner’s disciplined Palace side executed their game plan to perfection and got their just rewards. The afternoon served as a reminder of the size of the task before Amorim – how much longer will Manchester United tolerate being mid-table fodder?

The lineups:

MUN: Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Martínez; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dalot; Garnacho, Amad, Mainoo

CRY: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Mitchell, Lerma, Hughes, Muñoz; Kamada, Mateta, Sarr


Manchester United 0-2 Crystal Palace: Eagles triumph at Old Trafford – FromTheSpot