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Manchester United created chance after chance but failed to beat Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, ultimately ending the game with just a point at Selhurst Park.
The Red Devils had 15 attempts at goal but failed to find the net as Alejandro Garnazzo and Bruno Fernandes both hit the crossbar, while one also beat the former United goalkeeper.
The first half was largely one-sided, but the home side ultimately came out on top in the second half, with Andre Onana making two excellent saves and Eberechi Ese missing two excellent chances.
While most of the talk should be about the 20-time English champions’ debauchery and the damage it has done, one incident in the second half gave some in the press license to attack one particular United player.
Blood rush
Lisandro Martinez produced a spurt in the 63rd minute, with both players diving for the ball in the air as they tried to keep the pressure on inside the Palace box.
He was lucky not to hurt Daichi Kamada, with referee David Coote showing the Argentine a yellow card and the home fans calling for a red card. Eventually, after a lengthy check, VAR agreed with the referee’s opinion.
#Cryman – 63′
The referee yellow-carded Martinez for a challenge on Kamada. The VAR checked the potential red card and confirmed the referee’s no-red decision, deeming it a reckless challenge and not making contact with Kamada.
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) September 21, 2024
The Premier League Match Centre, the operational hub for all Premier League matches, provides information directly from the Match Centre and VAR Hub, and PGMOL experts took to social media to explain the reasoning behind the decision.
“The referee showed Martinez a yellow card for a challenge on Kamada. The VAR checked the potential red card and confirmed the referee’s no red decision, which deemed it a reckless challenge and no contact was made with Kamada,” the statement said.
Eagles coach Oliver Glasner wasn’t at all pleased with the call. “It looked really heavy to me. Luckily he touched the ball and I don’t think he touched our player’s shin because I think he would have broken his leg,” he said after the game.
It’s fortunate that no serious damage was done.
Even harsher criticism came from: sky Expert Jamie Redknapp: “I would say (what he thinks) – he wants to get into position and get in with both feet. I don’t know. That’s the tackle we saw a few years ago.
I don’t know what he thinks he gets out of jumping in with both feet. If he lands on Kamada’s feet, he’s down and it’s a straight red. The only reason he doesn’t get a straight red is because he somehow missed his feet. It’s a ridiculous challenge.”
It was clearly a foolish challenge and fortunately it didn’t cause any serious damage to the opposing team, but other than that it was mostly a one-way battle in favor of the away team.
So with United sitting 11th in the league table, Ten Hag is still under pressure and could regret Saturday’s result ahead of tough games against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.
Feature image Harriet Lander via Getty Images
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