Manchester United 0-1 Crystal Palace: Joachim Andersen strike sinks hosts

Publish date: 2024-08-30

Manchester United suffered a second successive defeat at home in the Premier League as Joachim Andersen's superb strike gave Crystal Palace an impressive victory at Old Trafford.

The teams were meeting for the second time in five days, with Erik ten Hag's side comfortably winning 3-0 in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

But Palace rested a number of first-team players for that game and were a different proposition on Saturday as they produced the perfect away performance.

After Tyrick Mitchell cleared Rasmus Hojlund's effort off the line, Palace took the lead when Andersen superbly drove a first-time effort into the top corner after a free-kick.

Manchester United then piled on the pressure, but struggled to find a way through the Palace defence. When they did they found goalkeeper Sam Johnstone in superb form.

Johnstone made two crucial saves in the second half to preserve Palace's lead, first pushing over Bruno Fernandes' dipping effort before keeping out Hojlund's bullet header.

The Palace goal continued to live a charmed life but Manchester United could not find a way through as the visitors secured a win that moved them above their opponents to ninth, with the hosts dropping to 10th.

It is now four defeats in seven Premier League games for Ten Hag's side, who have endured their worst start to a league season after seven games in 34 years.

A frustrating afternoon for United

After starting September with three successive defeats Manchester United were looking to end the month on a high, and victory over Palace would have been their third in a row to get their season off and running.

Having breezed to victory against Roy Hodgson's men on Tuesday, the home fans would have been forgiven for expecting more of the same against the Eagles.

Initially it looked like that would be the case as they made a dominant start, but Mitchell's goalline clearance proved something of a turning point.

After that, Palace started to look more of a threat on the counter, while Manchester United found themselves increasingly frustrated as they struggled to break their opponents down.

There were boos at full time from the home fans, who expressed their frustration at the officials after a couple of penalty calls were waved away.

United had plenty of chances to snatch a draw, but a mix of poor finishing and excellent Palace defending meant it would not be their day.

The perfect away performance

For Crystal Palace, this was a gameplan for an away game executed to perfection.

They were defensively solid and looked a threat on the counter-attack, with Andersen's fine strike just reward for a strong display in the opening 45 minutes.

Palace had not scored in the first half this season before the trip to Old Trafford, but it was well worth the wait with Andersen displaying brilliant technique for the strike from Eberechi Eze's free-kick down the right.

From then on it was all about resisting the numerous Manchester United attacks, which they did so superbly with Andersen and Marc Guehi superb in the centre of defence, backed up by Johnstone.

Player of the match

RichardsChris Richards

with an average of 8.00

Manchester United

  • Squad number11Player nameHøjlundAverage rating

    4.44

  • Squad number17Player nameGarnachoAverage rating

    4.30

  • Squad number18Player nameCasemiroAverage rating

    4.16

  • Squad number5Player nameMaguireAverage rating

    4.10

  • Squad number4Player nameS AmrabatAverage rating

    4.07

  • Squad number19Player nameVaraneAverage rating

    4.04

  • Squad number7Player nameMountAverage rating

    3.96

  • Squad number28Player namePellistriAverage rating

    3.94

  • Squad number20Player nameDiogo DalotAverage rating

    3.88

  • Squad number2Player nameLindelöfAverage rating

    3.78

  • Squad number8Player nameBruno FernandesAverage rating

    3.70

  • Squad number24Player nameOnanaAverage rating

    3.69

  • Squad number14Player nameEriksenAverage rating

    3.52

  • Squad number34Player namevan de BeekAverage rating

    3.40

  • Squad number9Player nameMartialAverage rating

    2.99

  • Squad number10Player nameRashfordAverage rating

    2.98

    • Crystal Palace

  • Squad number26Player nameRichards

    Average rating

    8.00

  • Squad number16Player nameAndersen

    Average rating

    7.98

  • Squad number10Player nameEze

    Average rating

    7.75

  • Squad number44Player nameRiedewald

    Average rating

    7.69

  • Squad number6Player nameGuéhi

    Average rating

    7.63

  • Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew

    Average rating

    7.51

  • Squad number3Player nameMitchell

    Average rating

    7.51

  • Squad number1Player nameJohnstone

    Average rating

    7.50

  • Squad number28Player nameDoucouré

    Average rating

    7.47

  • Squad number19Player nameHughes

    Average rating

    7.45

  • Squad number2Player nameWard

    Average rating

    7.43

  • Squad number14Player nameMateta

    Average rating

    7.41

  • Squad number15Player nameSchlupp

    Average rating

    7.26

    • Line-ups

    Man Utd

    Formation 4-2-3-1

    24Onana

    20Dalot19Varane2Lindelöf4S Amrabat

    18Casemiro7Mount

    28Pellistri8Bruno Fernandes10Rashford

    11Højlund

    Substitutes

    Crystal Palace

    Formation 4-3-3

    1Johnstone

    2Ward16Andersen6Guéhi3Mitchell

    10Eze28Doucouré19Hughes

    9J Ayew14Mateta15Schlupp

    Substitutes

    Referee:Chris Kavanagh

    Attendance:73,428

    Match Stats

    Live Text

  • Match ends, Manchester United 0, Crystal Palace 1.

  • Second Half ends, Manchester United 0, Crystal Palace 1.

  • Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Marc Guéhi.

  • Attempt blocked. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Donny van de Beek with a headed pass.

  • Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Harry Maguire.

  • Foul by Sofyan Amrabat (Manchester United).

  • Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  • Attempt missed. Donny van de Beek (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Christian Eriksen.

  • Substitution, Manchester United. Donny van de Beek replaces Victor Lindelöf.

  • Substitution, Crystal Palace. Chris Richards replaces Eberechi Eze.

  • Substitution, Manchester United. Harry Maguire replaces Raphaël Varane.

  • Attempt missed. Casemiro (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Anthony Martial.

  • Attempt blocked. Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Anthony Martial.

  • Foul by Casemiro (Manchester United).

  • Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  • Attempt missed. Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace) header from very close range is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Eberechi Eze with a cross following a set piece situation.

  • Sofyan Amrabat (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.

  • Hand ball by Sofyan Amrabat (Manchester United).

  • Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jairo Riedewald replaces Jeffrey Schlupp.

  • Substitution, Manchester United. Christian Eriksen replaces Marcus Rashford.

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