MANCHESTER UNITED ILIVYOICHAPA VIWILI CRYSTAL PALACE
Game over: Wayne Rooney volleyed home to ensure Manchester United took all three points
Beaten: Julian Speroni can only watch the ball hit the back of the net as Rooney notches a second for United
MATCH FACTS
Crystal Palace (4-4-1-1): Speroni 6; Ward 6, Dann 6.5, Delaney 6.5, Parr 6; Ince 7 (Gayle 85), Jedinak 6.5, Ledley 6, Puncheon 6; Chamakh 5.5 (Bolasie 74, 6); Murray 6.5 (Jerome 66, 6).
Subs not used: Hennessey, Dikgacoi, Gabbidon, Bannan.
Manager Tony Pulis 6
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea 7; Smalling7, Vidic 7, Ferdinand 7, Evra 7.5; Fellaini 6.5, Carrick 6.5 (Fletcher 88); Mata 8, Rooney 8.5, Januzaj 7 (Giggs, 80); Van Persie 6 (Valencia 80).
Subs not used: Lindegaard, Hernandez, Young,, Kagawa.
Booked: Vidic, Giggs.
Manager: David Moyes 7.5
Attendance: 24,571
Man of the match: Wayne Rooney
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland) 7
Ratings by SIMON JONES at Selhurst Park
Subs not used: Hennessey, Dikgacoi, Gabbidon, Bannan.
Manager Tony Pulis 6
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea 7; Smalling7, Vidic 7, Ferdinand 7, Evra 7.5; Fellaini 6.5, Carrick 6.5 (Fletcher 88); Mata 8, Rooney 8.5, Januzaj 7 (Giggs, 80); Van Persie 6 (Valencia 80).
Subs not used: Lindegaard, Hernandez, Young,, Kagawa.
Booked: Vidic, Giggs.
Manager: David Moyes 7.5
Attendance: 24,571
Man of the match: Wayne Rooney
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland) 7
Ratings by SIMON JONES at Selhurst Park
Rooney saw a first-half effort cleared off the line but Palace were in the ascendancy before Marouane Chamakh's clumsy challenge on Patrice Evra on 62 minutes let United in the back door as Van Persie scored his fourth goal in five games.
Striker Glenn Murray made his first Palace start in over nine months and almost had a dream return but he could not turn home a deep cross in the second minute as Chris Smalling applied pressure at the back post.
United's first effort on goal came courtesy of Janujaz, who exchanged passes with Van Persie before firing in a shot that drifted harmlessly wide of Julian Speroni's post.
The ever-lively Janujaz had the ball in the back of the net on 17 minutes as he arrowed home a Van Persie pass but the effort was rightly struck off by referee Michael Oliver after the teenager had controlled the ball with his arm.
United were gradually starting to box Palace in without really creating any clear-cut chances to break the deadlock but it was Rooney who came close to changing that.
Relief: Rooney celebrates with his team-mates after scoring the second goal at Crystal Palace
Target: Coins were thrown at Rooney as he prepared to take a corner at Selhurst Park
Pelted: Rooney picks up a coin that was thrown at him by the fans as United beat Crystal Palace
Moments later it was Palace who came close for the first time as Jonathan Parr's header took a deflection off Smalling and forced David De Gea into his first save of the game.
Chamakh was the next to force De Gea into action but the former Arsenal man could only give the United goalkeeper a simple save after heading Thomas Ince's cross into the ground.
Opener: Robin van Persie fires home from the spot to give United the lead in the second half
Wrong way: Speroni can't get to Van Perie's spot kick as United take the lead
That should not have been the case, however, as Fellaini was guilty of a poor miss, bending a left-footed shot wide after originally linking up well with Van Persie.
Rooney sent a free-kick wide in first-half stoppage time but Moyes would have been left frustrated once again at the interval as his side showed a lack of cutting edge in the final third.
Palace started the second half with a string of corners as they looked to make their visitors pay for their lack of first-half spark.
Jumping for joy: Van Persie celebrates opening the scoring for the Premier League champions
Before and after: David Moyes with Tony Pulis (left) and leaving the pitch with the three points
United were then given a simple way into a largely undeserved lead as Chamakh was guilty of a mis-judged challenge on Evra just inside the Palace box, with Oliver pointing to the spot and Van Persie sending Speroni the wrong way from the resulting penalty.
The goal seemed to rouse United from their slumber as Rooney and Mata exchanged passes before picking out Fellaini, whose low effort was well held by Speroni.
Impressive: Crystal Palace's supporters hang out a giant banner of their players before the match
No joy: Van Persie attempts a overhead kick as United struggled to break down the home side early on
United's second again came courtesy of Evra, who skipped down the left flank before crossing low to a free Rooney who drove a crashing shot into the back of the net.
Palace seemed to lose their defensive rigidity after conceding twice in six minutes and it almost got worse as Janujaz rolled in Van Persie, whose shot across Speroni came back off the crossbar.
The Eagles fought to the last to grab a consolation but slipped to just their second home defeat since Tony Pulis was appointed in November.
Under the lights: Palace suffered a rare home defeat and remain embroiled in the relegation battle
Not so lucky charm: Palace's eagle mascot Kayla before the clash with United
Category: uingereza
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