Man United comes back to beat Crystal Palace as Zirkzee stunner ends goal drought

Joshua Zirkzee scored in the Premier League for the first time in almost a year to spark a comeback 2-1 win for Manchester United at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The Dutch forward hadn’t scored in England’s top flight since a double against Everton on Dec. 1 last year. But he ended his drought with a stunning strike in the 54th minute at Selhurst Park to level the game after Jean-Philippe Mateta put Palace ahead from the penalty spot in the first half.

Mason Mount struck the winner nine minutes later as United ended Palace’s 12-game unbeaten home run in the league.

Zirkzee produced a moment of individual brilliance to fire United back into the game when collecting the ball in the box, spinning and scoring from a tight angle. It was only his eighth goal in all for United since joining from Bologna last year and his first this season.

He was in United’s starting XI following injuries to forwards Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha and delivered one of his best moments in his time at the club.

Mount scored the decisive goal following a free kick — firing low from the edge of the area after a layoff from Bruno Fernandes.

Mateta had given Palace the lead with a twice-taken penalty in the 36th. The France international was adjudged to have double-kicked his original spot kick and was directed to retake as per the rule clarification that came in after Julian Alvarez’s accidental double touch in a shootout against Real Madrid last season helped to eliminate Atletico Madrid from the Champions League.

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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer