Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee finally ended his eight-month goal drought with a crucial equaliser in his side's 3-1 comeback victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
Long-Awaited Breakthrough
The Dutch striker hadn't found the net since scoring against Lyon in the Europa League back in April, with his last Premier League goal dating back nearly a year. His 63rd-minute strike cancelled out Crystal Palace's first-half lead and sparked United's impressive second-half turnaround.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Zirkzee expressed both relief and gratitude. "It's a great feeling, you know, it's always a good feeling to score but most importantly it got us back into the game," the 24-year-old said.
Team Effort Secures Vital Victory
Zirkzee was quick to acknowledge the support he received during his difficult spell in front of goal. "I'm surrounded by great players, great people and we help each other every day and they made it quite easy for me," he admitted.
The forward's equaliser paved the way for Mason Mount to put United ahead with a superb free-kick, before a late third goal sealed the three points for Ruben Amorim's side.
Mount, who completed his first full match in some time, praised the team's character. "We showed good character to come back from 1-0 down in the first half," the England international said. "It was about reacting in the changing room in the second half. I thought we came out and we were really good."
League Position Boost
The victory proved significant in the Premier League standings, propelling Manchester United into sixth place above their immediate rivals. For Zirkzee, the goal represented more than just personal achievement.
"Today is just a reward, I think, for patience, for hard work and trying to be consistent," he reflected, also expressing thanks to manager Amorim and the entire coaching staff for maintaining faith in him during his barren spell.
The result marks an important response to United's previous away defeat against Everton and provides momentum as they continue their push for European qualification.
