Manchester United were able to overcome a tough 2-0 against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Thursday night. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial again lead from the front for the Red Devils, but it was not a comfortable ride for anyone involved.
The game started with a lack of intensity from Manchester United. Crystal Palace was able to get some early opportunities, but Maguire and Lindelof weren’t too challenged in the area. David De Gea, who had a brilliant first half, had to rescue his team a couple of times, but for the most part he controlled possession.
However, United could not do much with that possession. Palace did a good job of slowing down the game by taking fouls and making hard tackles. Somehow they continued without any of their shithousers winning a yellow card, and United was clearly frustrated.
As United grew in the game after the first drink, Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba found themselves on the ball more frequently. Although they weren’t as sloppy with possession as they were on Monday, Bruno still made a couple of questionable decisions. He played 2 frustratingly short pass attempts that were intercepted, and dropped a wide shot from range with room and players still ahead of him. Still, you could feel that United was building towards something, and all three Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood were doing well to get involved in the build-up.
Rashford finally made the breakthrough for United in the first minute of halftime at the end of the half. Martial almost took the ball from him and found himself in a difficult spot with Ward in front of him, but his reduction forced Ward and Guaita to commit to his right, allowing Rashford to quietly place him in the far corner. 1-0.
Palace nearly equalized with a free kick moments later, but De Gea made another fantastic save to deny Milivojevic. United would enter the half 1-0 up thanks to the heroics of the Spanish.
The second half started similarly to the first, with Palace slowing down the game and taking cheap fouls. Bad refereeing rewarded them possession a few times in the first half, and did so again in the second.
Bruno again struggled by passing the ball forward, and had two very poor gifts. The first was deep in the middle of the Palace field, but the second was around the center of the field. It was a draw in a dangerous position that led to a Zaha crossing that Jordan Ayew delivered to the far post. Harry Maguire and Timothy Fosu-Mensah did not score, but fortunately the VAR nullified the goal for offside.
However, Palace didn’t take a big hit in terms of momentum, and it looked dangerous every time they advanced. De Gea was again forced to save a shot from a distance, and United was struggling to own high up on the field.
Martial and Rashford seemed to be the most likely source of a spark on offense, and they had some good exchanges. Rashford had a chance to double the lead, but Guaita was ready to save. Solskjaer, recognizing a somewhat stagnant side that needed a change, brought Nemanja Matic and Jesse Lingard to Scott McTominay and Mason Greenwood, respectively.
Matic usually brings a bit of stability to possession, but even he seemed a little hesitant and shaky with the ball. If it weren’t for a wandering pass, he could have given Palace another chance at the counter by allowing himself to be stripped of possession. Bruno began to look better in possession, and should probably have scored United’s second on a breakaway in the 74th minute, but he hit the vertical shot at a Guaita very vulnerable to his mercy.
Fortunately for Bruno, he would get another escape opportunity minutes later. Rashford dribbled brilliantly through Palace’s midfield, surrounded by 3 players, and found Bruno on the left. Bruno plays a good pass back to Rashford, who sends Tony to finish the move brilliantly. 2-0. At an unfortunate moment, Patrick Van Aanholt was caught by Martial as he was falling after the shot, and he was caught by his leg. After several minutes on the ground, the medical staff took the stretcher out and took the Dutchman off the court.
United seemed safer with a 2-goal lead, and Jesse Lingard even seemed like a brilliant addition to the team. However, Palace looked threatening when they got the ball, and Zaha almost got it back in the 90th minute. De Gea got in the way with another save. The Spaniard was at his best today, and if it wasn’t for his key saves, he could have been 2-2 late in the match.
United was able to win the victory after 90 + 11 minutes. They are still level with Leicester on points, but lag behind on goal difference.
