Man Utd 2
Crystal Palace 1 

United went into this match with enough confidence to believe that another 3 points were possible and a potential 3rd place was at stake. Sesko started up front with Amad dropped to the bench for this one. 

The Eagles shocked OT inside the opening five minutes. Lacroix climbed above Yoro who lost sight of the ball from a Johnson corner and powered a header into the bottom corner in the 4th minute, punishing a sluggish start from United and giving Palace an early lead. It was the first shot on target of the match and it was just as I was walking into our supporters club – unusually late by my standards! Not a good start!

For much of the first half, Palace continued to frustrate United. They defended with numbers behind the ball, countered effectively, and looked sharper in transitions, with Sarr particularly lively. United’s best effort before half-time saw Casemiro head incredibly wide when he should have equalised. 

The momentum of the match shifted early in the second half. In the 57th minute, Palace defender Lacroix brought down Cunha inside the box. After a lengthy VAR review, referee Chris Kavanagh pointed to the spot and showed Lacroix a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. That moment turning early advantage into numerical disadvantage did, in my humble opinion, prove decisive. Realistically, it all seemed a bit too tough on Palace – there was an infringement, but players today exaggerate everything, and the defender had to go according to the new rules.

Bruno, United’s captain and beating heart despite his continuous lamentation that frustrates me at times, stepped up calmly from the penalty spot and sent Henderson the wrong way to level the score at 1-1. Now let’s go on and win this, I said to myself. 

Just eight minutes later, the game was turned on its head. Fernandes delivered a dangerous free-kick deep into the Palace box, and Sesko rose highest to power a header into the bottom corner — a goal that ultimately won the match. For a United supporter who was critical of this player at the beginning of the season, this was the kind of moment that reflects just how far Sesko’s confidence and influence have grown this season. 

Sesko’s goal was not a one-off strike — it was his sixth in his last seven appearances and continued an incredible scoring run that has transformed him from a bench option into a match-winner on merit. 

The final third of the game saw United control proceedings. Palace, now reduced to ten men, struggled to create clear chances, and United threatened to extend their lead through sustained pressure and a few chances. Dean Henderson made some good saves to keep the scoreline close, but United held firm to secure the 3 points.

The three points lift United into third place in the Premier League table, a position they haven’t occupied since May 2023 — a concrete sign of their resurgence. 

Apart from my keeping the feet firmly on the ground, yesterday felt like a statement: a team capable of grinding out results, responding to adversity, and relying on leaders like Fernandes and emerging stars like Sesko. If this is the version of United that travels to Newcastle next, the confidence at Old Trafford — and in every corner of the globe where supporters tune in — feels justified…Numquam Moribimur.

Robert Mizzi