Manchester United came from behind to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Sunday courtesy of goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount
Mason Mount scored Manchester United's winning goal against Crystal Palace
Mason Mount scored Manchester United's winning goal against Crystal Palace
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Everything you need to know about Manchester United's win against Crystal Palace as Ruben Amorim's side come from behind to win...
Initial Match Difficulty and Motivation: Manchester United travelled to Selhurst Park seeking redemption after a poor performance and defeat against Everton in their previous game. Despite having a significant rest advantage over Palace, who had played a European fixture midweek, United started the game struggling to assert their dominance.
Crystal Palace's First-Half Dominance: Crystal Palace dominated the opening 45 minutes, displaying sharper control and superior attacking patterns while continuously pressuring the visiting defense. Their midfield pairing, notably Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada, successfully dictated the rhythm of play, creating multiple chances.
The Crucial Penalty and Yoro's Error: United fell behind when defender Leny Yoro made a clumsy challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta in the box, leading to a clear penalty for the home side. This clumsy foul drew immediate criticism, compounding Yoro's recent poor run of form.
Mateta's Retaken Opening Goal: Mateta converted the resulting penalty at the second attempt after a VAR intervention forced a retake due to a double-touch technicality on his first successful kick. Mateta’s 36th-minute goal gave Palace a deserved 1-0 lead heading into the break.
United’s Second-Half Transformation: Ruben Amorim’s side emerged as a completely different team in the second half, demonstrating newfound control and tenacity to overturn the deficit. This marked a significant mental comeback for a team that had looked "dismal" in the opening period.
Zirkzee's Equalising Strike: United drew level in the 54th minute through forward Joshua Zirkzee, who had been enduring a lengthy goal drought before the match. The Dutchman produced a fine finish from a tight angle, sparking the vital comeback.
Mount Secures the Winning Goal: Just nine minutes after the equalizer, Mason Mount put United ahead 2-1 with a fantastically worked set-piece goal. Bruno Fernandes tapped a free-kick to Mount, who fired a shot from outside the area past the Palace wall and into the bottom corner.
Final Outcome and Significance:United held firm to secure a 2-1 victory, completing a gutsy comeback that silenced the home crowd and ended Palace's first-half dominance. The win was a crucial result for Amorim’s side, who managed to inflict Palace's first home defeat since February and snapped their own five-year winless run at Selhurst Park.
Read The Full Story:Crystal Palace vs Man United highlights and reaction as Mason Mount's strike wins it