Crystal Palace maintained their impressive form with a 2-0 success against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring twice in the second half. That victory was Palace’s fourth in five matches in all competitions and stretched the Eagles’ unbeaten run against United to four games (W3, D1).
United came out the blocks fast and held most of the possession with a number of chances created and Garnacho looking lively. But the hosts’ occasional lack of clinical finishing haunted them a second time. Kobbie Mainoo went closest, hitting a post after a neat team move.
Palace eventually rode out the early storm and grew into the game, with Tyrick Mitchell and Daniel Muñoz testing André Onana as second-half United attackers Mateta and Mitchell linked up to keep their defense on edge.
United’s emphasis on counter-attacking for long stretches after the break briefly threatened to shift the momentum, but an effort from Bruno Fernandes was saved brilliantly by Dean Henderson. Palace reestablished control at Selhurst Park when Mateta poked home the opener after he capitalised on a Maxence Lacroix header crashing off the crossbar.
Ruben Amorim gave Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee the chance to rescue the game, but United’s problems worsened when Lisandro Martínez was carried off on a stretcher. Mateta cemented the victory deep into stoppage time, with a close-range finish following a superb through ball from Muñoz.
The win sent Palace past United and up to 12th, as Amorim continues to seek consistency in his flailing tenure.
