MU struggled to win Crystal Palace 2-1 in the match of the 22nd round of the Premier League, the night of 4/2
In the 70th minute, MU and Crystal Palace players clashed. According to advice from the VAR team, the referee Andre Marriner went out to the field to review the slow-down video. He returned to the field and showed a direct red card to Casemiro. The 1992 midfielder strangled Will Hughes in the crowd.
Casemiro left the field and left a big gap in the midfield. Meanwhile, Erik Ten Hag was slow to make adjustments. Only 6 minutes following losing people, the “Red Devils” let the visitors concede a goal by an impromptu finish from close range by Jeffrey Schlupp.
In the last minutes, the pressure was on Man United’s defense. Rashford, Fred and teammates were tired but still did everything to buy time. 9 minutes of injury time passed before the nervousness and anxiety of the fans at Old Trafford. The home team’s defense is strong to preserve 3 points. MU has 42 points, thereby temporarily rising to 3rd and narrowing the gap with Man City to 3 points but has played more than one match.
| Casemiro received an unwarranted red card and will be suspended for the next 3 matches. |
Before Casemiro was sent off, United were in control of the game. Coach Erik Ten Hag’s army held the ball firmly in the middle of the field and organized many dangerous attacks from both the flanks and the middle.
Right at the 7th minute, MU was awarded a penalty by the opponent following the situation to touch the ball in the penalty area of Hughes. From a distance of 11 meters, Bruno easily fooled Vicente Guaita, putting the hosts ahead.
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| Bruno scored his fifth goal in the Premier League this season. |
The scenario in the first leg does not allow MU to reduce the tempo. The Old Trafford team continued to push the squad to pressurize. The attacking effort of the “Red Devils” was rewarded with the second goal in the 62nd minute. From Luke Shaw’s cross, Rashford chose a position, accurately finished from close range, doubling the gap.
Casemiro’s red card turned the game around. After the goal, coach Ten Hag had to withdraw a series of attacking players to rest to strengthen the defense. Maguire, Lindelof, Sabitzer entered the field and helped the host to retain 3 valuable points in the top 4 race.
