Goalkeeper Onana man of match as Palace proves hard nut to crack for Man United

Erik ten Hag’s side came up against a determined Dean Henderson in the Eagles’ goal and the former Red played well but the best save of the evening came from his opposite number, as Andre Onana pulled off a remarkable double stop in the second half.

Despite being in control, United conceded a couple of clear chances after the break and, despite bringing on Marcus Rashford, who started on the bench, the opportunities dried up towards the end and the hosts could somehow have stolen it.

FIRST HALF – REDS DOMINANT WITH NO REWARD

United controlled the opening 45 minutes but could not find a way past Henderson in the home goal. Matthijs de Ligt got his head to a Christian Eriksen corner after only three minutes to force the England international’s first save and Ten Hag’s men were a threat from set-pieces.

Seven minutes later, Alejandro Garnacho latched onto a Joshua Zirkzee through ball, with the advantage played after Bruno Fernandes was fouled, and the winger’s shot was a good one, only for Henderson to better it by palming away spectacularly with his left hand. De Ligt was left unmarked to attack a Fernandes corner but, again, Henderson got in the way to continue to frustrate the Reds.

Within seconds, Lisandro Martinez forced another low stop out of the ex-United keeper from close range but there was then a long spell of patient possession without any sting from Erik’s side. That changed when we should have gone ahead on 27 minutes. Garnacho hit Diogo Dalot’s fine pass first time and, when it bounced back off the bar, Fernandes smashed the rebound into the ground and it bounced up to clip the woodwork, with the goal gaping.

Another corner, this time from Amad, found Zirkzee but his header went the wrong side of the far post and Amad was involved again when teeing up Fernandes, only for the skipper’s drive to be blocked by Marc Guehi. Somehow Palace escaped punishment again when Fernandes’s centre came off Zirkzee and Henderson scrambled it away, as Garnacho slid in hoping to profit.

THAT double save, though 🤯

Well deserved, @AndreyOnana 👏#MUFC || #CRYMUN pic.twitter.com/2VKDWoGC5w

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 21, 2024

A minute before half-time, the Eagles had their first shot, compared to our nine, with Eberechi Eze finding space to sidefoot Tyrick Mitchell’s pull-back but sending his effort straight at Onana.

SECOND HALF – FRUSTRATION CONTINUES

Although United started the second half in a similar mood, the openings were more evenly shared out by the time the final whistle sounded. Amad’s dipping left-footer appeared to take a deflection and worried Henderson a little before drifting wide and Fernandes had a clear opportunity on 52 minutes. Kobbie Mainoo and Zirkzee were involved in the build-up and the skipper opted to use his favoured right foot from the centre of the goal but sent it wide with the outside of his boot.

Henderson was called into action again after Dalot did well to recycle the ball and Garnacho’s whipped attempt was turned away by the home keeper.

Palace responded by forcing Onana into a superb double save, the Cameroon man going down low to parry an Eddie Nketiah shot and then springing up to divert substitute Ismaila Sarr’s flying effort on the rebound wide. It was a moment of quality from Onana and much needed. Although the ball appeared to hit the outside of a post when De Ligt was involved in a scramble while appealing for a handball in the box, the next big chance fell to the Eagles again.

Eze appeared certain to break the deadlock after cleverly working a clear shot on goal with Sarr but guided the ball narrowly wide.

Despite Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund being introduced, United struggled to create too much late on, with a Will Hughes shot and Sarr thwarted by a block from Lisandro Martinez, booked earlier for an untidy stamp on the ball, the last highlights of a frustrating conclusion.

MATCH DETAILS

Palace: Henderson; Richards, Guehi, Lacroix; Munoz, Kamada, Wharton (Lerma 46), Mitchell; Nketiah (Hughes 66), Eze (Schlupp 91); Mateta (Sarr 46).

Subs not used: Turner, Clyne, Ward, Agbinone, Umeh-Chibueze.

Booked: Henderson, Hughes, Lacroix.

United: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Mainoo, Eriksen (Ugarte 76); Amad (Hojlund 76), Fernandes (c), Garnacho; Zirkzee (Rashford 61).

Subs not used: Bayindir, Evans, Maguire, Casemiro, Mount, Antony.

Booked: Garnacho, Martinez.

*****

SOURCE: Manchester United media