2nd February, 2025
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Crystal Palace pulled off a stunning 2-0 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford, with two late goals sealing their victory.
The match, which was full of tension and frustration for the home side, saw United struggle to break down Palace’s resilient defense.
The first blow came in the 64th minute when Jean-Philippe Mateta capitalized on a rebound to fire Crystal Palace into the lead, sending the ball past Manchester United’s keeper, Andre Onana, into the bottom right corner.
Palace’s lead was further extended in injury time, as Mateta once again found the back of the net, this time with a composed finish after a precise assist from Daniel Munoz.
United had their chances but failed to capitalize. Rasmus Højlund, in particular, squandered a prime opportunity when he headed a Diogo Dalot cross just wide of the post in the 90th minute.
Bruno Fernandes also struggled to make an impact, delivering a series of poorly executed crosses and eventually receiving a yellow card for unsporting behaviour in the 64th minute.
The defeat comes as a major blow to Manchester United, who were hoping to build momentum after their recent performances.
Despite enjoying a lion’s share of possession (66%) and producing a higher number of shots, they were ultimately left frustrated by Palace’s resolute defending and clinical finishing.
Palace, on the other hand, showed resilience and tactical discipline. Their victory, aided by some key substitutions and well-timed counterattacks, moves them higher up the table, with manager Oliver Glasner praising his team’s performance in the final stages of the match.
The game also saw some unfortunate moments, with United’s Lisandro Martínez sustaining an injury in the 77th minute, and both teams struggling with fouls throughout the match.
Nevertheless, Palace emerged victorious in a match that will certainly be remembered for its dramatic ending.
