Selhurst Park, London – Joshua Zirkzee ended a 364-day Premier League goal drought with a stunning second-half equaliser before Mason Mount completed a stunning turnaround as Manchester United fought back from 1-0 down to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on Sunday.
The victory – United’s first at Selhurst Park since 2020 and only their second away league win since March – provided a huge boost for under-pressure manager Ruben Amorim and forward Zirkzee, whose futures at Old Trafford had been heavily questioned just 45 minutes earlier.
Tale of Two Halves: Palace Dominant Before the Break
Jean-Philippe Mateta gave Crystal Palace a deserved lead in the first half, calmly slotting home a retaken penalty after his initial effort was ordered to be re-taken for accidentally touching the ball twice.
United were second best throughout the opening period. Zirkzee, handed a rare Premier League start, was anonymous, failing to register a single shot or meaningful touch against Palace’s robust back three of Marc Guéhi, Chris Richards and Maxence Lacroix.
At half-time, serious doubts surrounded both Amorim – still reeling from Monday’s shock 1-0 home defeat to 10-man Everton – and Zirkzee, whose lack of minutes this season has sparked January exit rumours as he fights for a place in the Netherlands squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Amorim’s Tactical Masterstroke Changes Everything
The Portuguese coach made a crucial adjustment at the interval, pushing Bryan Mbeumo higher and more centrally alongside Zirkzee while demanding greater intensity from his players.
The change worked instantly. United were transformed, pressing higher, winning duels and finally finding quality in the final third.
Just minutes after the restart, Zirkzee produced a moment of pure class. Controlling Bruno Fernandes’ clever free-kick on his chest, the Dutch striker fired a precise low drive across Dean Henderson from the tightest of angles to level the scores – his first goal in any competition since December 2024.
Moments later, Mason Mount headed home from another set-piece to put United 2-1 up and spark wild celebrations among the 3,000 travelling supporters.
What the Managers Said
Ruben Amorim:
“We needed to be more alive. When you increase the rhythm and the opponent gets tired, they suffer immediately. Josh was much better in the second half – not just the goal, but his runs behind and winning duels. We played better because Josh played better.”
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner was left frustrated, pointing to fatigue after Thursday’s UEFA Conference League fixture and a lack of squad depth:
“Conceding two goals from set pieces is really frustrating. Our energy levels dropped – this was our 22nd game of the season, United’s 14th. The players are giving everything, but we need more quality in January.”
Relief for Amorim and Zirkzee
The three points silence – at least temporarily – growing criticism of Amorim’s in-game management and provide vital breathing space for Zirkzee, who looked a completely different player after the break.
For a team that had scored just once in their previous five away Premier League games, Sunday’s comeback was a statement of resilience and character under their new manager.
Manchester United return to action next weekend looking to build momentum, while Crystal Palace will be desperate to end a winless run that now stretches back several weeks.
Final Score: Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United
Mateta (pen) 27′ | Zirkzee 51′, Mount 57′
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