Joshua Zirkzee ends drought as Man Utd secure vital win vs Crystal Palace - 6 talking points
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Manchester United have moved to within one point of the Premier League top four after coming from behind to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
United found themselves behind once again at the break thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta 's penalty. The Frenchman had been forced to retake his effort due to a double touch but was still successful at the second attempt.
Joshua Zirkzee levelled matters shortly into the second half with his first Premier League goal since last December. United then completed the turnaround through Mason Mount as his low effort from range beat Dean Henderson.
The victory leaves Ruben Amorim's side sixth in the table and just one point behind fourth-placed Sunderland , with Palace one point and a place behind the Red Devils. Here are all of the talking points from Selhurst Park:
The story of the first quarter of the game was a number of half chances for both sides. United could actually have taken the lead within the opening few minutes.
A rare long throw from the Red Devils caused chaos for the hosts and Casemiro looked sure to score, only to be denied by an excellent save from Dean Henderson.
From that point on, Palace then seized mometum and had presentable chances through Adam Wharton, Mateta and Daichi Kamada - none of which were able to find the net.
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Following all of those missed chances, Palace then got the clearest opportunity of the game to open the scoring and it came from the penalty spot. An excellent pass from Wharton played Mateta through into the penalty area, with the striker tripped by compatriot Leny Yoro.
Mateta was predictably the man to assume responsibility and converted with ease past Senne Lammens. But his celebrations were cut short after VAR had decided that Mateta had touched the ball twice in the process of scoring.
A rule change allowed Mateta to retake the spot-kick and despite going a different way, it was still the same result as the forward stroked home, sending Lammens the wrong way.
While Mateta has been scoring regularly for Palace over the past year, the same can't quite be said of Zirkzee at Man United. The Dutchman only scored three times in the Premier League last season and not once this - that was until he travelled to Selhurst Park.
Shortly after the break, Zirkzee latched onto a Bruno Fernandes free-kick, controlled the ball with his chest and took a moment to compose himself. He then let fly with a powerful effort that zipped past Henderson and found the net.
It represented Zirkzee's first goal in 25 Premier League games. And while he still has some work to do to show he can consistently lead the line for United in the absence of more established options, he will be thrilled to finally get on the scoresheet.
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United's leveller came from a set piece and was provided by a player who had struggled for form this season. And their second ended up coming in very similar circumstances.
Another free-kick from Fernandes on the edge of the box was nudged towards substitute Mount, with his low shot going through the wall to nestle into the back of the net.
It was the tenth goal that the Red Devils have scored from set pieces this season - the same amount as table-topping Arsenal .
Palace have not had the best time of things in Europe this season. Oliver Glasner's side currently sit 18th in the Conference League after two wins and two defeats from their opening four games.
And their European commitments appear to be having an impact on their domestic form, too. Palace have yet to win after a Conference League league stage game.
Of course, for a side embarking on their first-ever European campaign, that was always bound to happen. But it's no doubt something that Glasner will want to fix sooner rather than later.
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It's been a long time out for Lisandro Martinez following his serious knee injury. But having been named on the bench at Selhurst Park, Amorim saw fit to introduce him for the final ten minutes.
His introduction was greeted almost like a goal by the away end, as his is popularity. If he can recapture some of the form that he has already shown at Old Trafford, he will be a very useful readdition to the squad for the remainder of the campaign.
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