Manchester United produced a superb second-half comeback to defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 at Selhurst Park, ending a four-year winless run at the stadium and climbing back into the Premier League’s top six.
United had not scored at Selhurst Park since Bruno Fernandes’ goal in January 2023 and had not secured a victory there since July 2020 — a match in which Anthony Martial found the net. After a dominant first half from Palace and a deserved lead at the break, few would have predicted the turnaround that followed from Ruben Amorim’s side.
New Penalty Retake Rule Comes Into Play
Crystal Palace opened the scoring through Jean-Philippe Mateta, benefiting from a newly implemented Premier League rule. Mateta initially converted a penalty nine minutes before half-time, but VAR alerted referee Rob Jones that the striker had struck the ball twice before it crossed the line — an infringement that now triggers an automatic retake.
Despite the confusion among players and fans, Mateta remained composed and confidently sent Senne Lammens the wrong way on his second attempt to give Palace the lead.
Zirkzee Responds with Powerful Equaliser
Entering the fixture on a run of three winless games — including a damaging loss to 10-man Everton — United needed a response, and it arrived through an unexpected figure.
Joshua Zirkzee, who had faced heavy criticism for recent performances and limited playing time, rewarded Amorim’s faith in him with a brilliant equaliser. Nine minutes into the second half, the Dutch forward unleashed a swerving shot from a tight angle, beating former United goalkeeper Dean Henderson for his first Premier League goal in almost a year.
The strike could prove pivotal for Zirkzee as he looks to revive both his club form and his stalled international prospects with the Netherlands.
Mount Completes the Comeback
United’s momentum surged, and just nine minutes after Zirkzee’s goal, Mason Mount delivered the decisive moment. Quick thinking from Fernandes on a free-kick caught Palace off guard, allowing Mount to drive a low effort into the bottom corner.
From there, United shifted into game-management mode, taking advantage of a visibly fatigued Palace side that had played a European fixture less than 72 hours earlier. The hosts, who could have moved into the top four with a victory, ultimately ran out of energy and attacking ideas.
Source: gistreel
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