Set-Piece Specialists Steal the Show at Selhurst Park
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim joked that his team is using their time without European football to 'steal' set-piece ideas from Premier League rivals, after his side came from behind to secure a crucial 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace. The win, secured on November 30, 2025, ended a dismal run of form that included a heavy home defeat to Everton just days earlier.
Palace Penalty Drama and United's Second-Half Resurgence
The match at a bogey ground for United - their last win at Selhurst Park was in July 2020 - looked to be following a familiar script when Jean-Philippe Mateta gave Palace the lead from the penalty spot after 32 minutes. The French striker scored at the second attempt after VAR ordered a retake due to an accidental double touch. Palace dominated the first half, with United appearing as lethargic as they had in their previous outing against Everton.
Amorim revealed his half-time message was simple: "I just said to the players we need to be more alive. They were getting tired for the second half and we talked about that. And again, our pace in the first half, intensity, we cannot play like that in the Premier League."
Zirkzee Ends Drought as Set-Piece Prowess Pays Off
The turnaround began in the 54th minute when Joshua Zirkzee scored his first Premier League goal for a year, controlling a Bruno Fernandes free-kick on his chest before lashing a left-footed shot past former United keeper Dean Henderson. The Dutch striker described it as "a great feeling" that "got us back into the game."
The winner came just nine minutes later, with Fernandes turning provider again from another set-piece. His shorter free-kick found Mason Mount, who drilled home through a disorganised Palace wall. These goals took United's tally to 10 deadball goals from just 13 games this season, highlighting their set-piece improvement under Amorim.
The Portuguese coach explained: "We work a lot. We have more time to work, we work a lot and we learn a lot in England. I think you are used to seeing that but when you come for the Premier League you learn a lot with other teams how to do it and we are stealing a lot of things to score goals."
The victory marked Palace's first Premier League home defeat since February 15 and provided Amorim with his first London win of the season, strengthening his position at Old Trafford and boosting United's European qualification hopes.
