Sunday, 9 November 2014

Juan Mata gives United hard-fought win over Palace


Premier League, Old Trafford - Manchester United 1 (Mata 67) Crystal Palace 0

A second-half winner from Juan Mata gave Manchester United a valuable three points in an unconvincing 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.

The Spaniard's deflected shot after neat build-up play was enough to give United, who otherwise struggled to test Julian Speroni, a win that lifts them into the top six.

Mata replaced Adnan Januzaj in the 63rd minute and was denied a second goal by the post as he made the required impact for Louis van Gaal's struggling side.

He lashed in a shot from the edge of the box after link play from Marouane Fellaini and Di Maria, and possibly following a deflection off Damien Delaney, causing Speroni to misjudge the flight of the ball.

Palace had had the best chance of the first half as Fraizer Campbell pounced on a ball that evaded both Paddy McNair and Daley Blind, but faced with the onrushing David De Gea his touch was just a little too heavy, taking it high.

United dominated possession throughout but did little with it, with the roving Angel Di Maria’s efforts at creativity leading to nothing.

- Source: Eurosport 

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