The Eagles punished the Red Devils severely. Crystal Palace inflicted a scathing defeat on Manchester United on Monday at the end of the 36th day of the Premier League (4-0). Diminished and without desire at Selhurst Park, the Mancunians sank in front of the goals of the French Michael Olise (12th and 66th), Jean-Philippe Mateta (40th) and the Englishman Tyrick Mitchell (58th). The visitors remain 8th in the ranking, the locals are 14th.
After the victories of their competitors Chelsea and Newcastle, the Mancunians also had to win if they wanted to regain the advantage and sixth place in the race for Europe. However, they entered the match slowly, showing neither defensive aggressiveness nor cohesion in attack. Quite the opposite of their opponents.
Olise is having fun
The Eagles don’t have much to play for at the end of the season but clearly wanted to delight their enthusiastic supporters. Lively and enterprising, they did not take long to open the score. After a touch in midfield, Olise placed a small bridge on Casemiro, holder in central defense, then easily progressed to adjust André Onana with a left shot at the entrance to the truth zone (1- 0, 12th).
Olise would have doubled the lead but his little recovery in a good position was blocked by Mateta from six meters (21st). Faced with these Mancunians without any reaction despite superior possession of the ball, the Londoners did not need to force themselves to make the break. They recovered the ball in midfield and struck on the left with Mateta who easily cleared veteran Jonny Evans before shooting Onana (2-0, 40th). In great form currently, the former Lyonnais has scored 12 league goals this season.
Casemiro in full shipwreck
With an outdated central hinge, a lackluster midfield and invisible attackers, Manchester United were very logically two goals behind at the break. Erik Ten Hag’s men didn’t offer anything better afterwards and Oliver Glasner’s Eagles were able to continue to attack easily after a goal denied to Casemiro for offside (53rd). Onana delayed the deadline against Will Hughes (57th) but Mitchell gave him no chance at six meters in stride (58th).
Casemiro remained far too slow and casual to restart. He had the ball stolen on the edge of his area and Olise was able to send it to the back of the net to score a double and a 9th goal in the league this season (4-0, 66th). In front of a jubilant London public, the incoming Odsonne Edouard was content to shoot at the post (90th + 2). Manchester United, undermined by injuries, avoids the manita but not the humiliation and will have to get their heads right before the next reception of Arsenal. Already victorious in the first leg (0-1), Crystal Palace has not finished enjoying.
