Manchester United halted by Palace forward of Arsenal showdown

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MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United’s title momentum was dramatically halted Wednesday forward of its go to to Premier League chief Arsenal on the weekend.

Main Crystal Palace 1-0 after 90 minutes at Selhurst Park, United appeared set to rack up a tenth straight win in all competitions and transfer as much as second within the desk, simply six factors off the highest.

Michael Olise, nevertheless, utterly modified the temper of the night time by scoring a free kick within the first minute of stoppage time to earn Palace a 1-1 draw.

“We have been 1-0 up. Within the second half we had lots of house to kill them and go for the second. I by no means noticed we actually went for the second purpose,” United supervisor Erik ten Hag stated. “It’s troublesome to say (why). I’ve to criticize my staff. Go for the second.”

Ten Hag’s frustration was evident after a end result that modifications the narrative going into the sport towards Arsenal.

Now, as an alternative of having the ability to lower the Londoners’ result in three factors, defeat would go away United 11 factors adrift having performed a recreation extra.

Ten Hag has up to now talked down United’s unlikely title problem, however the enchancment in his staff has been evident on the again of 9 straight wins earlier than Palace, together with a 2-1 victory towards second-place Manchester Metropolis final weekend.

United stays the one staff to have crushed Arsenal within the league this season and a repeat efficiency on the Emirates Stadium would have been a significant assertion of intent.

It nonetheless could possibly be, however the draw with Palace will really feel like a missed alternative after Bruno Fernandes had opened the scoring within the forty third.

United moved up from fourth to 3rd within the league — stage on factors with Manchester Metropolis.

Whereas Ten Hag and his United gamers have been left annoyed, Leeds can sit up for an FA Cup fourth spherical match with Boreham Wooden or Accrington Stanley after a 5-2 rout of Cardiff of their third spherical replay.

CASEMIRO BLOW

As if a visit to high-flying Arsenal on Sunday isn’t daunting sufficient, United will probably be with out one in all its most influential gamers.

Casemiro picked up a fifth yellow card of the season towards Palace, that means the midfielder will probably be suspended for Sunday’s recreation.

“He’s a very essential participant for us and a purpose we’re on this place. However final time we beat Arsenal with out Casemiro. We have to do it once more,” stated Ten Hag.

Casemiro has been one in all United’s finest gamers this season, shedding simply two of the 18 video games he’s began since becoming a member of from Actual Madrid in the summertime.

LEEDS RELIEF

Leeds put its league struggles behind it with a morale-boosting win within the FA Cup.

The 5-2 victory towards second-tier Cardiff ended a seven-game winless streak in all competitions.

It took a Ninetieth-minute purpose from Sonny Perkins to salvage a 2-2 draw within the authentic recreation however the replay was a way more one-sided affair.

Leeds led 3-0 after 36 minutes with two objectives from Wilfried Gnonto and one other from Rodrigo. Gnonto gave Leeds a flying begin with a surprising volley contained in the opening minute and fired residence his second after Rodrigo had struck his eleventh purpose of the season.

Patrick Bamford struck twice within the second half, whereas Callum Robinson pulled two again for Cardiff.

Premier League survival stays Leeds’ precedence because it sits simply two factors away from the relegation zone.

“I felt very strongly earlier than the sport that we have been prepared for a powerful efficiency. I informed the staff that. This was clearly an essential second for us, nevertheless it’s simply one other second within the growth we’re making an attempt to create,” Leeds supervisor Jesse Marsch stated.

“An essential second to assemble momentum, however exhausting to say validation as a result of we nonetheless have a lot to do.”