What a rollercoaster at Selhurst Park! Manchester United showed true grit and determination, clawing back from two goals down to snatch an electrifying 3-2 victory against Crystal Palace on Monday evening.
- Final Score: Crystal Palace 2 – Manchester United 3
- Townsend opened the scoring early for Palace
- Van Aanholt doubled the hosts’ lead shortly after half-time
- Smalling put United back in the game with a crucial goal
- Lukaku levelled the score before Matic’s stunning late winner
Match Summary
The first half was dominated by Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace, who started brightly and stunned the Red Devils with a double blow. Andros Townsend’s expert finish on 11 minutes put Palace in front, and Patrick van Aanholt’s swift free-kick extended their advantage just after the break.
But Manchester United powered back in the second half. Chris Smalling’s header ignited the comeback, and Romelu Lukaku’s calm finish brought the scores level, setting the stage for a nail-biting finale. In stoppage time, Nemanja Matic sealed the three points with a spectacular volley from distance, sending the away fans wild!
Detailed Report
Crystal Palace burst out of the blocks, putting pressure on United’s defence with early chances. James Tomkins narrowly missed an acrobatic chance, and goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey made a vital save from Alexis Sanchez soon after.
The breakthrough came in the 11th minute when Christian Benteke’s clever play set up Townsend, whose deflected drive nestled in the top-right corner.
Palace continued to press, with Sorloth and Townsend testing United’s defence and keeper David De Gea, who stayed alert despite a shaky first half from his team.
United struggled initially, with key players like Paul Pogba and Sanchez losing possession too often. Lingard tried to spark a fightback near halftime, but Palace deservedly led 1-0 at the break.
Three minutes into the second half, a quick free-kick caught United off guard: Schlupp released Van Aanholt who fired home, doubling Palace’s lead and putting the Red Devils on the back foot.
Marcus Rashford’s introduction changed the game’s momentum. Pogba’s powerful shots forced saves while Smalling’s headed goal on 55 minutes sparked hope.
United kept piling on the pressure, with De Gea coming to the rescue multiple times, including saving Benteke attempts to keep the scoreline close.
On 76 minutes, Lukaku showed composure to capitalise on a rebound and equalise for United, reigniting the contest.
Seconds later, De Gea denied Benteke’s header, and with the crowds on their feet, Matic rose to the occasion, smashing a stunning 25-yard volley past Hennessey in stoppage time to complete an unforgettable comeback.
© TEAMtalk Media
