Manchester United 0, Crystal Palace 2
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s second half double helped Crystal Palace beat Manchester United who also lost Lisandro Martinez to a serious injury.
It was another blow to the Reds’ hopes of European football next season after a seventh defeat out of 13 at home in the league after boss Ruben Amorim tried to outthink Crystal Palace by not naming either of his misfiring strikers Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee against the visitors.
Instead he went with Kobbie Mainoo as a makeshift false nine but the experiment ultimately failed after a good five minutes.
United’s reshuffle almost caught the Eagles by surprise as Kobbie Mainoo first set up Alejandro Garnacho for an early chance which se scuffed wide before the midfielder also struck the post after Amad set him up.
Daniel Munoz headed wide for the visitors and Maxence Lacroix had a shot saved by Andre Onana following a fast break by Palace.
Jefferson Lerma outmuscled Manuel Ugarte and released Mateta for a shot that narrowly went wide.
And the Eagles built on that progress with a goal from a set piece midway through the second half.
Leny Yoro failed to win the ball and Palace broke the deadlock after 64 minutes when Maxence Lacroix’s header came back off the crossbar with Andre Onana committed and Mateta tapped home the rebound.
There was a big blow for the Reds who could not cope with the physical threat of Palace after Lisandro Martinez had to be stretched off following a serious looking knee injury while challenging with Ismaila Sarr after 82 minutes.
If that wasn’t enough of a blow it was game over after 89 minutes it was game over as Mateta who applied the finish after United’s static midfield failed to stop Sarr from charging through and releasing Daniel Munoz for cutback that was converted with ease by Mateta.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 0, Crystal Palace 2
Andre Onana: 6. Saved from Maxence Lacroix but seemed as slow as his team mates.
Leny Yoro: 6. Useful in the build up but beaten in the air by Maxence Lacroix for Jean-Phillipe Mateta’s goal.
Harry Maguire: 6. The only player capable of matching the Palace physicality.
Lisandro Martinez: 6. Licence to roam out of defence but always looked second best against the Crystal Palace players and went down awkwardly under challenge from Ismaila Sarr. Stretchered off in distress with what looks a serious injury.
Noussair Mazraoui: 6. Pushed up very high into midfield to try and create overloads. But this allowed Tyrick Mitchell to create chances to his flank.
Manuel Ugarte: 6. Struggled to impose himself against the physical Crystal Palace players. Could not keep up with Jean-Phillippe Mateta on a lung busting break and was outmuscled by Jefferson Lerma in midfield. Had a low volley shot saved by Dean Henderson.
Kobbie Mainoo: 6. Played a more advanced role between Amad and Alejandro Garnacho when United were on the ball. Struck the post with an early effort, also set up Alejandro Garnacho for a shot which went wide.
Diogo Dalot: 6. Had hands full with Daniel Munoz who slipped him for the second Palace goal.
Amad Diallo: 6. Lively movement. Set up great chances for Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes. Was beaten to the ball by Marc Guehi in the second half for a chance to shoot.
Alejandro Garnacho: 6. Posed a threat from the left, shot wide early on. Chased down the ball for a possible chance, forced Dean Henderson to make a clearance outside his box. Faded.
Bruno Fernandes: 6. Stayed deep as a midfield orchestrator but came forward in the second half and his shot was saved by Dean Henderson.
Rasmus Hojlund (on for Kobbie Mainoo, 70): 6. Did not offer the physicality required up front and certainly didn’t get any service. Headed wide in injury time.
Joshua Zirkzee (on for Noussair Mazraoui, 70: 6. Anonymous.
Mathijs De Ligt (on for Lisandro Martinez, 82): No time to mark
Christian Eriksen (on for Manuel Ugarte, 87): No time to mark
GOALS – Manchester United 0, Crystal Palace 2
Man Utd 0, Crystal Palace 1: 64. Jean-Philippe Mateta was first on the scene from 5 yards out to tap into the empty net after Maxence Lacroix’s header from a free kick came back off the crossbar with Andre Onana stranded having missed it.
Man Utd 0, Crystal Palace 2: 89. Jean-Philippe Mateta finished off United after slotting home Daniel Munoz’s square pass after he was released by Ismaila Sarr after United’s static midfield failed to stop the attack.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 0, Crystal Palace 2
Man Utd: Onana, Yoro, Maguire, Martinez (de Ligt 82), Mazraoui (Zirkzee, 70), Ugarte (Eriksen 87), Mainoo (Hojlund 70), Dalot, Amad, Garnacho, Fernandes (C)
Man Utd Subs not used: Bayindir, Harrison, Lindelof, Casemiro, Collyer
Bookings: Maguire 49 (foul on Jean-Phillippe Mateta); Ugarte 74 (foul on Ismaila Sarr)
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Richards, Guehi (C), Lacroix, Munoz, Hughes (Wharton 88), Lerma, Mitchell (Clyne 88), Kamada (Eze 61), Sarr (Devenny 90+6), Mateta
Crystal Palace Subs not used: Turner, Nketiah, Schlupp, Esse, Kporha
Bookings: Hughes 72 (foul on Rasmus Hojlund)
Goal: Mateta 64
Referee: John Brooks
Attendance: 73,751