Jean-Philippe Mateta fired Crystal Palace to a stunning 2-0 victory over a lifeless Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon. The defeat marked United’s fifth loss in their last six Premier League home matches, increasing the pressure on the Red Devils amidst growing frustration from their home fans.
⚽ Match Summary
United started brightly but quickly found themselves outmaneuvered by Oliver Glasner’s well-organized Palace side. Despite having more possession, United lacked a cutting edge, and Palace were ruthless in punishing their defensive frailties.
- 64th Minute: Palace broke the deadlock with a brilliantly executed set piece. A clever free-kick routine saw the ball fall kindly for Mateta, who tapped in from close range.
- 89th Minute: With United pushing for an equalizer, Palace exploited their fragile defense. Daniel Munoz burst through United’s failed offside trap and squared the ball for Mateta, who calmly slotted home his second to seal the victory.
In between the goals, United struggled to create clear-cut chances. The game was further marred for the hosts when Lisandro Martinez was stretchered off after suffering a serious injury, adding to United’s growing list of concerns.
🗒️ Manchester United Player Ratings (3-4-2-1):
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Andre Onana | 5.4/10 |
| CB: Leny Yoro | 6.5/10 |
| CB: Harry Maguire | 6.9/10 |
| CB: Lisandro Martinez | 7.2/10 |
| RWB: Noussair Mazraoui | 6.4/10 |
| CM: Manuel Ugarte | 6.9/10 |
| CM: Bruno Fernandes | 7.4/10 |
| LWB: Diogo Dalot | 6.6/10 |
| RF: Amad Diallo | 7.4/10 |
| LF: Alejandro Garnacho | 6.0/10 |
| ST: Kobbie Mainoo | 5.9/10 |
🔄 Substitutes:
- Joshua Zirkzee (70’ for Mainoo) – 6.1/10
- Rasmus Hojlund (70’ for Mazraoui) – 6.2/10
- Matthijs de Ligt (82’ for Martinez) – N/A
- Christian Eriksen (87’ for Ugarte) – N/A
Subs not used: Altay Bayindir (GK), Elyh Harrison (GK), Victor Lindelof, Casemiro, Toby Collyer
🗒️ Crystal Palace Player Ratings (3-4-3):
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Dean Henderson | 8.3/10 |
| CB: Chris Richards | 8.1/10 |
| CB: Maxence Lacroix | 8.2/10 |
| CB: Marc Guehi | 8.0/10 |
| RWB: Daniel Munoz | 8.3/10 ⭐ |
| CM: Will Hughes | 6.8/10 |
| CM: Jefferson Lerma | 7.4/10 |
| LWB: Tyrick Mitchell | 7.5/10 |
| RW: Ismaila Sarr | 6.4/10 |
| ST: Jean-Philippe Mateta | 8.8/10 ⚽⚽ |
| LW: Daichi Kamada | 6.5/10 |
🔄 Substitutes:
- Eberechi Eze (61’ for Kamada) – 6.7/10
- Nathaniel Clyne (88’ for Mitchell) – N/A
- Adam Wharton (88’ for Hughes) – N/A
- Justin Devenny (90’ for Sarr) – N/A
Subs not used: Matt Turner (GK), Caleb Kporha, Jeffrey Schlupp, Eddie Nketiah, Romain Esse
🏆 Player of the Match: Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
Mateta was lethal in front of goal, capitalizing on United’s defensive lapses with two poacher’s finishes. His ability to be in the right place at the right time was the key difference-maker in this clash.
🔑 Key Moments:
- (64′) – GOAL! (0-1): Mateta taps in from a well-worked Palace free-kick routine.
- (75′) – Martinez Injury: Lisandro Martinez stretchered off, adding to United’s woes.
- (89′) – GOAL! (0-2): Munoz breaks through United’s offside trap and assists Mateta for his second.
📊 Match Stats:
- Possession: Man Utd 58% – 42% Crystal Palace
- Shots: Man Utd 14 – 11 Crystal Palace
- Shots on Target: Man Utd 4 – 6 Crystal Palace
- Corners: Man Utd 5 – 4 Crystal Palace
- Fouls: Man Utd 12 – 10 Crystal Palace
🚀 Final Thoughts:
Another dismal performance at Old Trafford raises serious questions for Manchester United. Their lack of creativity, combined with poor defensive organization, left them vulnerable to Palace’s counter-attacks.
For Crystal Palace, this was a tactical masterclass by Oliver Glasner, with his team executing their game plan to perfection. Their unbeaten away run continues, and they’ve now leapfrogged United in the table—a testament to their resilience and organization.
United need urgent answers both on and off the pitch, while Palace can look ahead with confidence after this dominant away display.
