11/30/25 08:40:00
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11/30 08:39 CST Man United comes back to beat Crystal Palace as Zirkzee stunner
ends goal drought
Man United comes back to beat Crystal Palace as Zirkzee stunner ends goal
drought
By JAMES ROBSON
AP Soccer Writer
Joshua Zirkzee scored in the Premier League for the first time in almost a year
to spark a comeback 2-1 win for Manchester United at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The Dutch forward hadn't scored in England's top flight since a double against
Everton on Dec. 1 last year. But he ended his drought with a stunning strike in
the 54th minute at Selhurst Park to level the game after Jean-Philippe Mateta
put Palace ahead from the penalty spot in the first half.
Mason Mount struck the winner nine minutes later as United ended Palace's
12-game unbeaten home run in the league.
Zirkzee produced a moment of individual brilliance to fire United back into the
game when collecting the ball in the box, spinning and scoring from a tight
angle. It was only his eighth goal in all for United since joining from Bologna
last year and his first this season.
He was in United's starting XI following injuries to forwards Benjamin Sesko
and Matheus Cunha and delivered one of his best moments in his time at the club.
Mount scored the decisive goal following a free kick --- firing low from the
edge of the area after a layoff from Bruno Fernandes.
Mateta had given Palace the lead with a twice-taken penalty in the 36th. The
France international was adjudged to have double-kicked his original spot kick
and was directed to retake as per the rule clarification that came in after
Julian Alvarez's accidental double touch in a shootout against Real Madrid last
season helped to eliminate Atletico Madrid from the Champions League.
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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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