EPL: Crystal Palace Leapfrog Manchester United with Comfortable 2-0 Victory

Crystal Palace secured a 2-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, thanks to a brace from Jean-Phillipe Mateta, lifting the Eagles above United in the league table and into 12th place.

Crystal Palace secured their fourth win in five games across all competitions, defeating Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford. Jean-Phillipe Mateta's second-half goal proved decisive, as the Eagles extended their unbeaten head-to-head run against United to four games, with three wins and one draw.

Manchester United began the match with a sense of urgency, eager to score an early goal. However, their lack of clinical finishing, a recurring issue this season, hindered their efforts. Despite this, Alejandro Garnacho posed a significant threat, cutting inside from the left flank before seeing his shot expertly blocked by Chris Richards.

The hosts continued to press, enjoying periods of neat possession, but struggled to capitalize on their dominance. A swift team move almost yielded the opener, only for Kobbie Mainoo's effort to rebound off the left post. As the half progressed, Crystal Palace began to gain traction, putting United on the back foot and creating scoring opportunities of their own.

Palace's first genuine chance arrived when Tyrick Mitchell's cross was headed wide by Daniel Munoz. Moments later, Maxence Lacroix's shot was parried by Andre Onana, as the Eagles continued to build momentum and challenge United's defense.

Tyrick Mitchell nearly scored the opening goal, capitalizing on Lenny Yoro's mistake at the back. However, the fullback's shot was deflected wide of the post, denying Palace an early lead.

As the first half drew to a close, Palace dominated proceedings, with Jean-Phillipe Mateta once again proving a handful for the United defense. He burst past Harry Maguire and attempted to chip Andre Onana, but the goalkeeper tipped the ball wide, ensuring the score remained level at halftime.

Manchester United emerged revitalized after the break, adopting a more effective gameplan that involved absorbing pressure and launching counterattacks. This approach nearly yielded dividends when Amad Diallo led a swift break, cutting the ball back for Bruno Fernandes. However, Dean Henderson produced a fine save to deny the United captain.

As the second half progressed, Palace regained their footing, with Daniel Munoz and Jean-Phillipe Mateta causing chaos for the United backline. Mateta, in particular, has been a talisman for the Eagles since Roy Hodgson's departure in February 2024. He scored his 22nd goal in 37 appearances since then, poking home the rebound after Maxence Lacroix's header struck the crossbar.

A huge away performance from @CPFC ⚡#MUNCRY pic.twitter.com/t0lW4iKNgu

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 2, 2025

In a desperate bid to turn the match around, Amorim introduced Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, but the substitutions failed to yield the desired outcome. Instead, disaster struck when Lisandro Martinez suffered an injury and had to be stretchered off late in the game.

The situation quickly went from bad to worse for Manchester United. Jean-Phillipe Mateta scored his second goal of the afternoon, benefiting from Daniel Munoz's precise layoff to seal a comfortable victory for Crystal Palace. This defeat denied Amorim his first consecutive league wins since taking the reins at Old Trafford.

The win propelled Crystal Palace above Manchester United in the league table, lifting them to 12th place. The result marked a significant triumph for Roy Hodgson's side, who continue to climb the table under his guidance.