DOUBLE TROUBLE
Olise’s late leveller stuns United…and Casemiro is out of Arsenal clash
MICHAEL OLISE’S stunning last-gasp free-kick denied Manchester united a 10th win in a row last night and stole a point for Crystal Palace.
Bruno Fernandes had put erik ten Hag’s side in front at the end of the first half but they were pegged back in the 91st minute, when olise whipped a brilliant effort past david de Gea.
it was a second blow for Ten Hag after Casemiro had picked up a rash booking that rules him out of Sunday’s crucial trip to table-topping arsenal.
SECOND place was within touching distance for Manchester United. Then stepped up Michael Olise. United deserved victory here at Selhurst Park and it looked for so long that they would get the win that would send them directly behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.
But then, in added time, Olise conjured a magical free-kick to break United hearts and they had to settle for moving above Newcastle into third place.
Much has changed since Erik ten Hag last popped up at Selhurst Park eight months ago. United lost that day, courtesy of a solitary Wilfried Zaha strike.
In May, United were feeble and unimaginative. Last night they were inventive and resolute — well worthy of victory.
The manner of United’s performance on the final day of last season, in front of their manager in waiting, may well have made Ten Hag anxious about the job in hand. The negativity of that day has dissipated and been replaced with confidence — but they simply could not make allowances for Olise’s brilliance.
The start from United was vibrant with Casemiro, inevitably, at the heart of their early positivity.
There may have been a temptation for Ten Hag to rest the Brazilian ahead of Sunday’s clash against Arsenal. But the way the midfielder started the game, the United manager would have been happy he did not. What a signing he has been for United — the beating heart of their rejuvenation.
In contrast, it was all hands to the pump for Crystal Palace as they tried frantically to contain the visitors.
Central defensive pairing Marc Guehi and Chris Richards were having to make too many lastditch tackles for their liking and certainly for Patrick Vieira’s liking as the Palace manager watched on uncomfortably.
One win in seven matches for Palace hardly made encouraging reading for the south London club heading into this encounter.
Following a largely-promising first season under Vieira, they have not necessarily made the progress that many had expected or certainly hoped.
Credit to Palace, though, they clung on bravely during the opening exchanges, though Antony did go close to opening the scoring for United with a clever lob after confusion in the home defence.
Frustration started to set in for United too as Fernandes and Antony argued among themselves after the latter misplaced a pass — though the pair quickly patched up their differences with a handshake. Those handshakes would have escalated quickly had debutant Wout Weghorst’s header crept under the bar rather than inches over in the 31st minute.
But for all their dominance, United were indebted to goalkeeper David de Gea in the 40th minute, the Spaniard producing a brilliant fingertip save to divert Odsonne Edouard’s fierce longrange effort on to the bar.
It would have been harsh on United as they were by far the better side. But soon after they grabbed the lead their performance warranted. The right side of Palace’s defence were caught out as Christian Eriksen and Marcus Rashford combined to set up Fernandes, who picked his spot to fire United ahead in the final minute of the opening period.
Palace’s defending was woeful, but United were clinical in equal measure.
Vieira could have no complaints, while the only issue Ten Hag had to moan about is that his team had not turned their dominance into a bigger lead.
That was the danger for United, this game was there for them from minute one. Palace would surely not be as passive in the second half.
Yet the match restarted in similar fashion, United controlling the tempo to reduce Vieira’s side to the occasional counter attack.
Of course, with Wilfried Zaha, Olise and Eberechi Eze all on the pitch by the 56th minute those breakaway attacks posed an undeniable threat to United.
Indeed, United were once more thankful for an intervention from De Gea, who produced an excellent point-blank stop to deny Guehi’s header.
Casemiro’s booking for a reckless lunge on Zaha was one negative on a largely positive night, the yellow card means he is suspended for the weekend trip to the Emirates and he was perhaps fortunate not to have seen red. We will see how United deal without their brilliant midfielder.
Then came the sucker punch, Olise brilliantly arrowing a freekick home in added time to bring United back down to earth. CRYSTAL PALACE (4-2-3-1): Guaita 6; Clyne 6, Guehi 7, Richards 7, Mitchell 6.5; Doucoure 6.5 (Schlupp 71min, 6), Hughes 6.5 (Milivojevic 84); Edouard 6.5 (Ayew 71, 6), Olise 7.5, Zaha 6.5; Mateta 6 (Eze 56, 6.5).
Scorer: Olise 90+1. Booked: Hughes. Manager: Patrick Vieira 7.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea 7; Wan-Bissaka 7.5, Varane 6.5, Martinez 6.5, Shaw 7; CASEMIRO 8, Eriksen 7 (Fred 83); Antony 6 (Garnacho 70, 6), Fernandes 7.5, Rashford 6.5; Weghorst 6 (McTominay 70, 5.5). Scorer: Fernandes 44.
Booked: Martinez, Casemiro.
Manager: Erik ten Hag 6.5.
Referee: Robert Jones 6. Attendance: 35,853.