Magic Matic applies finishing touch to United’s storming fightback

CRYSTAL PALACE

Townsend 11, Van Aanholt 48

MANCHESTERUNITED

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Smalling 55, Lukaku 76, Matic 90 Nemanja Matic scored a stunning long-range goal in injury time last night as Manchester United came from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace 3-2 in a thrilling English Premier League contest at Selhurst Park.

Matic collected a loose ball about 20 yards from goal and sent a dipping shot into the corner of the net for his first goal for United, adding to strikes from Chris Smalling and Romelu Lukaku.

The win lifted United back into second place, above Liverpool, in the race for Champions League qualification behind runaway leaders Manchester City. The defeat left Palace in the bottom three.

With Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez particularly profligate, United were dreadful in the first half and conceded the opening goal when Andros Townsend’s shot from the edge of the area span into the top corner off the back of United defender Victor Lindelof in the 11th minute.

United replaced Scott Mctominay – the player who this week said he wants to play for Scotland instead of England – with Marcus Rashford at the break as Jose Mourinho changed his tactics in a bid to get back into the contest.

But it got worse before it got better. United’s players switched off for Palace’s second goal in the 48th minute, Jeffrey Schlupp taking a quick free-kick and Patrick van Aanholt running through before applying the finish.

Smalling sparked the comeback seven minutes later, making it 2-1 when he powered a header beyond Wayne Hennessey after a decent cross from Antonio Valencia.

Fifteen minutes from time thevisitorsdrewlevel.sanchez took a shot which deflected off James Tomkins and landed at the feet of Lukaku. The Belgian seemed to take an age before drilling the ball into the net.

The last word, right at the death, belonged to Matic.