Before Mason Mount’s stunning winner as Manchester United defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 on Sunday, Joseph Zirkzee scored his first Premier League goal in almost a year.
At Selhurst Park, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first-half penalty gave the hosts a lead, but Zirkzee and Mount scored the winning goal after the break for United.
Zirkzee scored his first Premier League goal since he scored against Everton in December 2024, helping United recover from a poor start.
The widely denounced Dutch striker had started 24 league games without scoring, which made him think that his £36 million ($47.7 million) move from Bologna in 2024 was a bad one.
In his eight previous appearances dating back to April, Zirkzee, 24, had not scored.
Mount has struggled with injuries since joining United from Chelsea, and this was only his second goal this season.
United’s first victory at Old Trafford since October was a much-needed boost for Amorim after being defeated by Everton’s ten men on Monday at Old Trafford.
The challenge presented by United’s gritty fightback in icy south London was underscored by Palace’s first defeat at Selhurst Park since February 15.
After last season’s difficulties, Amorim had stated this week that there were “no excuses” for United’s sputtering start to the season.
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He will be relieved to see United defend the FA Cup winners, who have become a thorn in the Premier League elite since Oliver Glasner took over.
After a long throw caused chaos in the Palace defense, Casemiro should have taken the lead inside the opening 60 seconds, but Dean Henderson parried his close-range effort.
United Revival
Mateta’s second-half culpability was equally apparent, with only Senne Lammens to beat in the United goal as the France striker held off Leny Yoro.
Before Yoro blocked Yeremy Pino’s goal-bound strike, Lammens was called into action to save Daichi Kamada’s low drive from the edge of the area.
When Palace took the lead in the 36th minute, United was already in trouble.
Mateta scored from the spot, but Yoro’s penalty was voided when he lunged crudely at him, who was then denied entry to the second-place goal due to his double kick.
Accidental double-touch penalties are now permitted if the first kick was successful as a result of a new rule being implemented this season.
Following the clarification, Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez received a penalty for kick-in two against Real Madrid last year.
Mateta confidently fired past Lammens once more after receiving a reprieve.
Zirkzee scored the 54th minute equalizer to make Amorim’s unlikely savior completely anonymous in the first half.
Zirkzee smashed a brilliant strike into Henderson’s far corner from a nearly impossible angle after grabbing Bruno Fernandes’ free kick.
Zirkzee unintentionally deflected the ball into Lammens’ net before scrambling it into safety, almost finding the back of the net at the other end moments later.
However, in the 63rd minute, Mount put United ahead with some momentum.
Fernandes headed a free-kick past Henderson from 20 yards past Henderson before firing a low drive past the Palace wall.
Source: Channels TV
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