Manchester United were denied a 10th consecutive win in all competitions, drawing 1-1 at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace.
Bruno Fernandes scored on the eve of first-half stoppage time to give United a well-deserved half-time lead, and for much of the second half, it appeared that would be enough to propel United to yet another victory. Erik ten Hag’s side were dealt a cruel late blow, however, when a stunning Michael Olise free-kick found the top right-hand corner in injury time, capping off a frustrating evening for the Reds.
Wout Weghorst, making his Reds debut, added a new dimension to United’s attack, showing some clever early touches as Erik ten Hag’s men set about breaking the deadlock right away. Luke Shaw created the first meaningful chance for the visitors, connecting sweetly on the half-volley to meet Aaron Wan-cross Bissaka’s at the far post, firing back across goal and just wide.
The threat persisted on both sides. On the right, Antony deflected Tyrick Mitchell’s pass to latch onto Casemiro’s ball over the defence, with our Brazilian’s lobbed effort over Guaita crashing into the side netting. Weghorst looked over from Shaw’s whipped cross to the left side. Shaw was at the heart of much of United’s first-half play, winning a free-kick in an inviting position after a challenge by Cheick Doucoure, but Marcus Rashford’s resulting free-kick was wide of Guaita’s post.
For all of the visitors’ dominance, United owed David De Gea a spectacular save five minutes before halftime, when the Spaniard brilliantly tipped Odsonne Edouard’s curling 20-yard effort onto the crossbar.Three minutes later, United took the lead thanks to a beautiful move at the other end. Eriksen exchanged passes with Rashford to get into crossing range down the left, and when the Dane pulled it back, Fernandes kept his cool in the box to pick his spot and dispatch past Guaita, giving the Reds a deserved half-time lead.
Fernandes nearly scored again after the break, racing onto Wan-half-cleared Bissaka’s cross at breakneck speed before his effort was blocked from close range. Patrick Vieira’s men appeared to gain confidence briefly, but the closest they would come to equalising – for the time being – was a wild Ebere Eze volley high and wide of goal.
Ten Hag brought on Scott McTominay and Alejandro Garnacho from the bench, and the former had a strong shout for a penalty moments after coming on, but referee Robert Jones ruled Chris Richards’ challenge was fair.
Just moments after Jeffrey Schlupp and Jordan Ayew were introduced for the hosts, De Gea was forced to make another brilliant save from Marc Guehi’s bullet header. The Reds then faced a couple of terrifying moments in the final ten minutes. First, Casemiro was booked late in the game for a challenge on Wilfried Zaha, and because it was his fifth yellow card of the season, he was ruled out of Sunday’s trip to Arsenal.
Olise curled a free-kick from 30 yards into the top right-hand corner via the underside of the crossbar in the first minute of stoppage time, with nothing even an inspired De Gea could do to stop it. The Reds had a chance to win at the death, with Casemiro inches away from finishing Fernandes’ corner before Garnacho’s rasping shot from the edge of the box was well held by Guaita.
United were grateful for a crucial Wan-Bissaka challenge that stopped Zaha as he went one-on-one at the other end, forcing Ten Hag’s men to settle for a point.
