Odion Ighalo was on the losing side while Ebere Eze was among the triumphant party as Crystal Palace came away with a shocking 3-1 victory over Manchester United on Sunday evening.
Andros Townsend’s first-half strike barely seven minutes into the encounter, and Wilfred Zaha’s second-half brace helped the Eagles soar past the Red Devils at Old Trafford in what could be the first of many stunning results this season.
Man United were playing their first game of the season, having been allowed a delayed start due to their involvement in the Europa League in August when they reached the semi-final.
But the home side started poorly, and it took Roy Hodgson’s men just seven minutes to break the deadlock.
Terrible United defending allowed Schlupp to square the ball across to Townsend, and the former Spurs man fired it into the far bottom corner for the game’s opener.
Despite boasting the attacking quartet of Martial, Rashford, Fernandes, and James, United rarely threatened their visitors’ goal for much of the half.
It was, therefore, no surprise when the latter was taken off for Greenwood after the break.
Around the hour-mark, United started to put Palace under a bit more pressure, but it was former United man Zaha who got the ball into the net next only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Midway through the half, and it was two-nil to Crystal Palace following a controversial VAR decision.
The technology spotted a handball in the area and gives a penalty kick, which Ayew took, and De Gea saved. But VAR insisted that the United goalkeeper stepped off his line just before Ayew took the penalty and asked that it be retaken.
Zaha then made no mistake from the spot to double the Eagles’ advantage.
Eze was introduced into the encounter in the 75th-minute, while Ighalo followed several minutes later.
New boy van de Beek reduced the deficit on his EPL debut, but Zaha netted his second of the evening to ensure United began their campaign without a point.
This post was last modified on September 19, 2020 9:16 pm