Manchester United's Carabao Cup campaign came to a dramatic end as they were knocked out by Crystal Palace in a nail-biting penalty shootout at Old Trafford.
The third-round clash ended 0-0 after 90 minutes, with neither side able to break the deadlock despite several chances. The match went straight to penalties, where Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson emerged as the hero against his former club.
Penalty Drama at the Theatre of Dreams
United's woes from the spot continued as Casemiro saw his penalty saved by Henderson, while Palace converted all their attempts to win 3-0 in the shootout. The result marks another disappointing cup exit for Erik ten Hag's side.
Henderson, who spent 12 years at United before joining Palace this summer, produced a stunning save to deny Casemiro and ensure his new team progressed to the next round.
Ten Hag's Selection Gamble Backfires
The United manager made nine changes to his starting lineup, with only Bruno Fernandes and Raphael Varane retaining their places from the weekend's Premier League win over Burnley. The rotated side struggled for cohesion against a well-organised Palace team.
This early cup exit piles more pressure on Ten Hag after United's inconsistent start to the season. The Dutchman will now turn his attention to Saturday's crucial Premier League clash against Palace at the same venue.
What This Means for Both Clubs
For Palace, this victory provides a much-needed confidence boost after their own poor run of form. Roy Hodgson's side will hope to carry this momentum into their league campaign.
United, meanwhile, must regroup quickly with important fixtures coming thick and fast. The Red Devils now have just the Premier League and Champions League to focus on as they look to salvage their season.
