- Manchester United was held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace
- Fernandes opened the score, but Olise’s late freekick goal levelled the score
- Casemiro picked a yellow card to rule him out of Sunday’s clash against Arsenal
Michael Olise’s late equalizer for Crystal Palace 1-1 on Wednesday ended Manchester United’s hopes of moving into second place in the Premier League.
Erik ten Hag’s United appeared to be on track for a tenth consecutive victory in all competitions for the first time since 2009. However, the side was rocked in the 91st minute when Olise’s left-footed free-kick found the top corner.
Following their win in the Manchester derby, United gave on-loan striker Wout Weghorst a chance, but an old face – Bruno Fernandes – gave United an early lead at Selhurst Park.
How the game unfolded
Wout Weghorst made his United Debut.|PHOTO: Goal|
Both teams had possession in advanced areas during the first 10 minutes, with the visitors having the only real half-chance, with Marcus Rashford having a strike blocked by Marc Guehi after breaking down the left and into the penalty box.
In the ninth minute, Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita spilt a cross from Fernandes with Weghorst close by, but the Eagles just about cleared their lines.
Guaita saved Rashford’s close-range effort, but the offside flag would have prevented the Englishman from scoring if he had found the back of the net.
In the 16th minute, Luke Shaw fired a half-volley just wide of the Palace post before Antony looped one just past the goal in the 22nd minute, with the visitors looking the more dangerous at Selhurst Park.
On the 30-minute mark, Weghorst had a half-chance when he met a cross from Shaw, but his header just landed on the roof of the Palace goal.
Fernandes was the next Red Devil to try his luck, firing wide of the Palace goal in the 34th minute before Antony curled one into Guaita’s arms three minutes later.
In the 39th minute, Rashford’s free-kick went wide of Guaita’s goal before Man United goalkeeper David de Gea made a stunning save down the other end to tip Odsonne Edouard’s effort onto the crossbar.
Fernandes Strike
Bruno Fernandes curled one in from an Eriksen pass.|PHOTO: Goal|
Man United took the lead just before halftime, but Christian Eriksen’s clever pass found Fernandes, who took a touch before smashing the ball past Guaita from inside the box.
Early in the second period, Antony curled one over the Palace goal, but the home side continued to pose questions, with Eberechi Eze firing over the crossbar just before the hour.
In the 70th minute, Alejandro Garnacho and Scott McTominay came off the bench for Manchester United, with debutants Weghorst and Antony leaving the field.
VAR Controversy
When McTominay went down in the box under a challenge from Chris Richards in the 72nd minute, the Red Devils had a strong claim for a penalty, but the referee allowed play to continue, and VAR agreed.
In the 75th minute, De Gea made a brilliant save to keep out a powerful header from Guehi, before Jordan Ayew failed to make contact on an Olise cross under intense pressure from the hosts.
Casemiro was then booked in the 80th minute for a reckless challenge on Zaha, ruling the Brazil international out of Sunday’s match against Arsenal.
De Gea concedes late free-kick strike.|PHOTO: Goal|
The home team equalized in second-half stoppage time thanks to a stunning free kick from Olise.
Manchester United will face Arsenal on January 21 but will be without midfielder Casemiro, who received a yellow card for a rash foul and will be suspended.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login