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- Manchester United 1-3 Crystal Palace (0-1)
Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s Manchester United had a nightmarish start to the season when Crystal Palace won 3-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday night.
A terribly weak and elaborate first half, where Crystal Palace took the lead for Andros Townsend, was followed by an equally tame second half for Manchester United.
Solskjær’s men appeared to be on vacation mode when they were countered by a compact team from Palace, where Roy Hodgson triumphed to the fullest with the battle plan for the low-rise and counter-scare team.
Former Manchester United player Wilfried Zaha dropped the old club by two goals in the second half. The first was of the highly controversial type.
The VAR intervened in the 0-1 position and awarded Crystal Palace a penalty after a good hand from Victor Lindelöf. David de Gea saved Jordan Ayew’s penalty, but the cheers were short-lived when VAR intervened again.
– Risks of ripping the soul out of the game
VAR gave Palace another chance to score the penalty, as De Gea left the line a few hundredths early. Zaha put the # 2 attempt on goal.
– With VAR used in such a way, they risk shattering the heart and soul of the game, writes renowned soccer writer Henry Winter on Twitter.
– El Gea saves punishments. But the VAR takes away the ransom. They ruin the game, writes Jan Åge Fjørtoft.
– A farce, adds Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst on the decision, before pointing out that the VAR decision is not an excuse for the defeat and the performance of the big club.
However, Manchester United’s latest signing Donny van de Beek rekindled the hopes of the hosts when he scored on his debut soon after.
The Dutchman arrived in trademark style on a deep run into the box, intercepted a post and struck in the 1-2 reduction.
However, that hope quickly faded when Zaha countered Crystal Palace 3-1 right after against his former teammates.
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Beginning of horror
Manchester United delivered a very weak first half. The danger signal came early, and Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s students appeared to be still in vacation mode when the start of the nightmare was a fact after just seven minutes.
Jeffrey Schlupp hit a strong, good post on the ground that found Andros Townsend in the back post. The winger did everything right and set up a 0-1 lead for Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
Manchester United created little offense, despite great ball possession, but attacking play against the establishment became too elaborate and too slow against a very compact and low away team.
Roy Hodgson ideally hit the battle plan before the break, closed the gap that Bruno Fernandes loves to devastate and had good control. At the same time, Crystal Palace took good care of counterattacks with their fast attacking players in the arrival phase.
Just before half-time, the visitors were about to double the lead when Jordan Ayew dribbled onto the field and released himself towards the crossbar, but David de Gea made an impressive reflex save down the line. Wilfried Zaha also created dangers in the counterattack phase with his speed and technique.
Criminal drama
Photo: NTB Scanpix
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Solskjær hit Mason Greenwood’s stellar shot for Daniel James at half-time, without Manchester United looking better for that reason.
The great possession of the ball gave minimal opportunities. Instead, Crystal Palace was equally dangerous on counterattacks with Ayew and Zaha at the top.
Halfway through the second half, the visitors received a penalty after VAR intercepted a hand on Victor Lindelöf.
Jordan Ayew, however, failed to outwit De Gea, who pulled a save class at the root of the post.
The Spanish’s joy did not last long, however, because the VAR intervened again and allowed Palace to re-launch the penalty, as De Gea left the line a few hundredths earlier.
This time Zaha had the opportunity from eleven meters. The former Manchester United striker threw the ball behind De Gea and entered the goal.
However, Manchester United’s latest signing Donny van de Beek rekindled the hopes of the hosts when he scored on his debut. The Dutchman arrived in trademark style on a deep run into the box, intercepted a post and struck in the 1-2 reduction.
However, that hope quickly faded when Zaha answered 3-1 to Crystal Palace shortly after and secured an away win at Old Trafford.
