Crystal Palace handed Manchester United their sixth straight away Premier League defeat with a narrow 1-0 win, thanks to Wilfried Zaha’s impressive solo strike. The ‘Eagles’ end the 2021/22 season unbeaten in their last six league games at Selhurst Park.
With the 3-2 defeat against Everton having left the ‘Eagles’ blue, Patrick Vieira’s men mustered confidence from the very outset to mark yet another United upset with the backing of a thunderous Palace crowd. However, it was the visitors who brought forth the first scare of the afternoon via the departing Edinson Cavani’s rebound shot that Vicente Guaita superbly punched away in the nick of time.
Palace missed a great opportunity to draw first blood in the 28th minute as Wilfried Zaha threw away a shot directly at David de Gea from the left flank, forcing the Spaniard into a comfortable save. However, the Ivorian forward upped the ante just ten minutes later and executed a special individual move that ended up in the bottom-left corner, leaving De Gea helpless this time around.
Manchester United were proactive after the break, but it was the hosts who looked threatening when in possession. The 60th minute witnessed Conor Gallagher smash the ball inches wide of the left post, minutes before United youngster Hannibal Mejbri unleashed a fine drive aimed at the top corner at the other end, only for Guaita to pull off an astonishing save to deny the effort. United tried hard to infiltrate a stern Palace defence time and again with repeated attacks, but the ‘Eagles’ impressive backline record of having conceded just 17 home league goals came into play as the match neared FT.
Zaha’s solitary strike means that no player has ever scored more winning goals in a single campaign for the south London club, as Palace improved their finish from last season by two places into 12th spot. An inferior goal difference coupled with a West Ham defeat, sees United stay in sixth spot and capture the UEFA Europa League position.
