Manchester United dropped points in the Premier League for the first time since the World Cup break on Wednesday, as they drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace.
Bruno Fernandes’ goal just before half-time appeared to have settled proceedings at Selhurst Park and continued the Red Devils’ winning streak, but Michael Olise’s superb free-kick dramatically earned the hosts a point in the 91st minute.
United created the best chances in a quiet opening half an hour, with Luke Shaw firing wide, Antony seeing his lobbed effort land the wrong side of the post, before debutant Wout Weghorst headed over from a whipped Luke Shaw cross.
Fernandes and Rashford also had shots which failed to hit the target, before Antony’s strike was comfortably held by Vicente Guaita. Meanwhile, Palace only managed one major chance in the first half, with David de Gea forced into an outstanding finger-length sprawl across his goal to keep out Odsonne Edouard’s shot from the edge of the box.
And minutes after Palace went so close to opening the scoring, United took the lead. It was good link-up play between Rashford and Christian Eriksen at the corner of the Palace area which created the opening, before the latter slid the ball inside to the waiting Fernandes. The Portugal international had too much time inside the box and coolly curled a fierce strike into the hosts’ goal.
The second half started in a similarly slow manner, with Antony and Rashford failing to test Guaita with respective shots, while Eberechi Eze wildly slashed at an opportunity inside the United box.
On 76 minutes, David de Gea had to be on hand again, this time to punch clear a Marc Guehi header from a corner. The goalkeeper also easily saved Eze’s free-kick and saw a late shot from Wilfried Zaha fly over his crossbar, but could do nothing in injury-time as Olise lined up a free-kick.
The winger placed an inch-perfect shot into the United goal from around 25 yards out, with the ball just clipping off the crossbar before bouncing over the line. Alejandro Garnacho did see an even later shot saved in the game’s final chance.
Here’s how we rated the players...
1. David de Gea- 7
His save to keep out Edouard will be up there among the best stops of the season, while he also did well to keep out Guehi’s header.
2. Aaron Wan-Bissaka- 8
Put in another solid defensive display in the absence of Diogo Dalot, and Zaha ended up swapping wings after a frustrating first half up against his former team-mate.
3. Raphael Varane- 7
Solid at the back and put in an assured display for United.
4. Lisandro Martinez- 7
Comfortable on the ball and produced one driving run into the Palace half. Played well on his first league start since November.