Report & Highlights: Palace home run ended after narrow defeat against Manchester United

First-team

30 Nov 2025

Crystal Palace were beaten at home in the Premier League for the first time since February after Manchester United fought back from a goal down to claim all three points.

Summary;

Oliver Glasner makes three changes from side beaten at RC Strasbourg, with Adam Wharton, Chris Richards and Daichi Kamada returning to the starting XI
1: Henderson holds on after an almighty scramble in the penalty area
10: United free-kick after Kamada fouls Casemiro. Brazilian heads the resulting set-piece just wide
13: Wharton volleys a strong effort at goal, but Lammens holds on
15: Mateta shoots just wide after getting in-behind the visiting defence
24: Kamada has an effort after flowing Palace move but Lammens gets down to save.
36 - GOAL: Mateta scores his penalty at the second attempt after VAR had disallowed his initial effort for a double touch.
45 +3: Nketiah breaks clear but Shaw makes a challenge to deny him a shot
HT: Palace 1-0 Manchester Utd
54 – GOAL: Zirkee levels for United, firing home from a tight angle
63 – GOAL: Mount gets the visitors in-front after they take a free-kick short
77: Henderson makes a vital save to deny Mbeumo
FT: Palace 1-2 Manchester Utd

Match Action: Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United

Palace were aiming to show no signs of any rustiness following Thursday night’s Conference League exploits. But they nearly endured a bad start when a long throw caused chaos in the penalty area.

United nearly bundled the it home but Dean Henderson managed to eventually claim the ball amidst the bodies, against his former club.

After that early scare, Palace quickly grew into the game. Both Adam Wharton and Jean-Philippe Mateta had early sighters of goal.

Wharton’s volley from the edge of the box was well held by Senne Lammens, before Mateta took advantage of some hesitation in the United defence, only to put his effort wide of goal when through one-on-one.

But the Eagles continued to press. Daichi Kamada forced a decent save out of Lammens, before Yéremy Pino was only denied by a last ditch block from United defender Leny Yoro.

Adam Wharton and Kamada’s energy was overwhelming the white shirts in midfield, with the former in particular starting a number of flowing team moves.

And eventually, the reward came. Clever play from Wharton released Mateta in the United box, but he was clearly brought down by Leny Yoro.

It looked as if the Frenchman had given Palace the lead without any drama, sending Lammens the wrong way, only for VAR to intervene.

Matt Donohue ruled that Mateta had played the ball twice, resulting in a retake. Thankfully, he remained the coolest man in the stadium, going for the opposite direction but with the same end result.

This time the goal was final and Palace had the lead. It could have been two before the break when a slip allowed Eddie Nketiah, who had replaced Ismaïla Sarr, through on goal.

But before he pulled the trigger, Luke Shaw made an excellent recovery run, blocking Nketiah from testing Lammens. United rarely threatened, although Bruno Fernandes flashed an effort just over the Palace goal not long before the break.

The visitors did have the first effort of note after the break, but Henderson comfortably held Casemiro’s low drive.

But few inside Selhurst Park would have said an equaliser was on the cards. That is what the visitors got, however, when Joshua Zirkee controlled a free-kick deep into the Palace area and fired home from a tight angle – Henderson given no chance.

Palace did nearly respond on the hour mark. Mateta drove at the retreating defence, before curling a shot just wide of the post, with Lammens beaten.

But the equaliser had given United fresh confidence, and they took the lead just after the hour, when Mount whipped home a shot following a clever lay-off from Fernandes.

Amad then went close to a third after cutting in from the right, his effort just clearing the crossbar.

Palace’s first real chance of the second-half came when Nketiah headed just wide of the post, but opportunities were generally few and far between.

United could have ended the contest after some good skill from Mbeumo have him a sight of goal, only for Henderson to make the save that kept Palace in the contest.

Despite some late pressure from the hosts, no real clear cut chances presented themselves, with a late Justin Devenny free-kick blocked in the game's final act.

The result ends Palace's unbeaten league home run at 12 games. The Eagles will have a chance to get back to winning ways when making the trip up to Burnley on Wednesday.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi, Muñoz, Kamada (Lerma, 85), Wharton (Hughes, 78), Mitchell (Devenny, 85), Pino (Uche, 78), Sarr (Nketiah, 38), Mateta.

Subs: Benítez (GK), Clyne, Canvot, Esse.

Manchester United: Lammens (GK), Yoro (Mazraoui, 54), De Ligt, Shaw (Martinez, 82), Amad (Dorgu, 91), Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Mbeumo (Mainoo, 91), Mount, Zirkzee.

Subs: Bayindir (GK), Heaven, Malacia, Ugarte, Lacey.

AS IT HAPPENED

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