MAN UNITED GET CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFICATION BACK ON COURSE.

CRYSTAL PALACE 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 2

BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT SELHURST PARK

After three successive defeats in which Manchester United dominated possession in two of the games, they got their Champions League qualification for next season back on track, but only just, as they beat Crystal Palace 2-1.  The scoreline did not quite tell the whole story of the game, but in summing up the game ultimately came down to a tale of two keepers and teams taking their chances.  Arguably Palace had a lot of chances while United took two of the three clear chances they had.

With just seven minutes on the clock, the first chance of the game fell to United.  Wayne Rooney laid a pass to Daley Blind outside the Palace area and he hit a shot, which clipped the base of Julian Speroni’s left post. That was a lucky escape for Palace.

Just after the quarter of an hour mark of the game, Ashley Young, who was being booed by the crowd got down the left and crossed the ball, which hit Scott Dan on his arm and Michael Oliver pointed to the penalty spot.  The decision seemed harsh, as Dann did not move his arm towards the ball. With United missing their last two penalties up stepped Juan Mata, who calmly dispatched the ball low to Speroni’s right to give United the lead.  The Palace fans were incensed but United who had not scored in three games took that chance.

In the 26^th minute Palace were awarded a free kick for a foul by Mata on Wilfred Zaha.  The United defence was also caught napping from what looked like a rehearsal on the training ground. Miles Jedinak sold the United defence a dummy as Joe Ledley chipped the ball to Dann who then headed to Glen Murray, however Phil Jones was alert to the potential danger and cleared the ball before Murray could compose himself and shoot.

Luke Shaw who has been dogged by fitness problems since joining United was injured yet again and was replaced by Jonny Evans who was back from suspension. United led 0-1 at the break.

At the beginning of the second half, Wayne Rooney who had a dead leg was replaced by Radamel Falcao, while Alan Pardew sent Jason Puncheon on for Joe Ledley.   Just before the hour mark Pardew’s change paid off when Palace were awarded a free kick on the edge of the United area. Puncheon curled the ball with his left foot round the wall and it nestled in the back of the net. It was no more than Palace deserved on the balance of play as they started on the front foot in the second half.

Palace were in the ascendancy and should have taken the lead minutes later.  Chris Smalling was robbed of the ball and James McArthur was bearing down on the United goal but his shot was just wide of the post.  United simply hadn’t found their gear in the second half as they did not create much in the second half.

Palace had another chance. This time it fell to Murray who hit a shot but David De Gea, who has bailed United out several times this season saved the shot at point blank range as he got his hand to the ball somehow. United were rocking and struggling to stem the tide of the Palace attacks.

Moments later Young weaved some magic on the left as he left Joel Ward for dead.  However his shot took a deflection and trickled away from goal for a corner.

The Reds struggled to clear a Palace corner and the ball fell to Damien Delaney but his shot with his wrong foot was wide.  Gradually United started to get some joy on the left as Young twisted and turned and put a cross into the box.  Unfortunately of Palace Speroni came and misjudged the cross leaving Marouane Fellaini to head the ball into the unguarded net.

With less than ten minutes of the game remaining Murray hit a shot inside the 18-yard box but De Gea saved it with both feet.  In the 90^th minute, Herrera and Falcao combined on a fast break and Herrera’s shot was tipped over by Speroni.

There were four added minutes and although Palace gave it their all, United did what they had to do and saw out the game. Ultimately the game came down to a tale of two goalkeepers – one who kept his team in the game and the other who made a bad call and left his goal unguarded. No wander Real Madrid appear to be knocking on United’s door for an outstanding goalkeeper who has probably been the best in the Premiership this season despite playing in front of a defence which keeps changing due to injuries.

Louis Van Gaal said: “Football is crazy. When you see how we played against Chelsea, Everton and West Brom, this was not our best match but we won. Today I saw the fighting spirit of my team. I am very happy with this result and it brings us a big step closer to our goal. Tomorrow we will sit back with a glass and wine and watch the game between Chelsea and Liverpool.”

On De Gea’s save he said: “He made a crucial save at a difficult time in the game.”