Jean-Philippe Mateta double consigns Man Utd to another home league defeat
Manchester United endured another low in their rollercoaster season as Jean-Philippe Mateta’s brace secured Crystal Palace a fourth win in their last six trips to Old Trafford and Lisandro Martinez suffered a serious-looking injury.
Ruben Amorim had hoped to have turned a corner after racking up three straight wins in all competitions since a 3-1 loss to Brighton led him to สมัครสมาชิก UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีทุกวัน suggest this might be the “worst team” in the club’s history.
But United’s first Premier League home game since then ended in another painful defeat, with Albion’s rivals Palace running out 2-0 victors thanks to Mateta’s second-half double.
Oliver Glasner’s Eagles moved above the Red Devils with their third straight win on the road, leaving Amorim’s men in 13th place after an afternoon that underlined the rebuild required.
United fans will be hoping for improvements before Monday’s transfer deadline – especially with Marcus Rashford heading on loan to Aston Villa – and how they could do with a striker like Mateta.
The Palace favourite was denied by a superb Andre Onana save in the first half, but after the break reacted to a Maxence Lacroix header coming off the crossbar to open the scoring before adding another late on.
If an 11th league defeat of the season was not enough, United saw centre-back Martinez carried off the pitch on a stretcher in tears after sustaining a knee injury.
Murmurs of frustration greeted the final whistle from those left inside Old Trafford.
Where the hosts had made a bright start after paying tribute to those lost in the Munich air disaster.
Kobbie Mainoo – surprisingly started up front – looked lively, with fine footwork followed by him cutting back for Alejandro Garnacho to get away a blocked shot.
United went closer still in the seventh minute as Mainoo collected a pass from Amad Diallo and saw a low shot taken on to the post by a Lacroix deflection.
Daniel Munoz headed narrowly off target when Palace launched their first meaningful attack, but Amorim’s men were pushing hardest.