Crystal Palace 1-1 Man United: Manchester United failed to do good business on a visit to Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening. Wout Weghorst’s debut at Selhurst Park ended in a major downer. Attacker Michael Olise gave the home team an unexpected equalizer in the final minute of the official playing time.
For Weghorst, a dream came true in London. Last week he settled in Manchester and in his first game he was allowed to start right from the kick-off. The Orange-international from Borne made his debut for The Red Devils as attack leader. He was flanked by Marcus Rashford and Antony, while Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen had to supply him at the back.
The victory in the city derby against Manchester City (2-1) gave Erik ten Hag’s team an excellent opportunity to crawl over The Citizens in the rankings for the first time this season. Then you had to win. United immediately asserted itself. With Weghorst as a lightning rod for Rashford. However, the Englishman, who was in top form, was unable to strike three times.
The first real danger came in the name of Luke Shaw. The left back took a ball out of the air with his instep, but shot wide. Antony outwitted goalkeeper Vicente Guaita moments later, but the ball hit the side net. Weghorst forgot to start his dream adventure with a kickstart, because the Dutchman headed over. On the other hand, David de Gea stopped Palace striker Odsonne Édouard from scoring.
2nd half
On the stroke of half-time, the Ten Hag team had it done. Weghorst was again the lightning conductor, after which Eriksen found the storming Fernandes. The Portuguese shot the ball beautifully into the top corner: 0-1. For Eriksen – who came on a free transfer in the summer – it was already his seventh assist of the Premier League season. For Manchester United it meant that the difference was made.
In the second half, The Red Devils initially looked for the second goal. Antony was closest, but shot over. Weghorst was allowed to take a shower twenty minutes before time. The home team then took over the initiative. However, Crystal Palace did not get further than a possibility from Marc Guehi. The defender hit De Gea. The biggest setback came from referee Robert Jones. Casemiro was fined with a yellow card, so he misses the squatter against leader Arsenal due to a suspension.
