Selhurst Park: Crystal Palace produced an energetic and attacking display but were ultimately punished by Manchester City’s clinical edge, falling to a 3-0 defeat as Erling Haaland scored twice and Phil Foden added another in the Premier League clash on Saturday.
Despite creating several clear chances and twice hitting the woodwork, Palace were undone by City’s ruthlessness in front of goal, with the final scoreline flattering the visitors.
Palace Start Brightly After Line-Up Changes
Ahead of their first meeting with Manchester City since their Wembley encounter in May, Palace manager Oliver Glasner made five changes to the side that defeated Shelbourne in Dublin.
Ismaïla Sarr returned from injury, while Dean Henderson, Tyrick Mitchell, Nathaniel Clyne and Jean-Philippe Mateta also came into the starting XI. Palace began on the front foot, pressing high and stretching City’s defence with direct runs.
Inside 20 seconds, Yéremy Pino almost broke through on goal before being flagged offside. The Eagles continued to threaten, with Clyne latching onto a loose pass in the box on 10 minutes, though he could not get a clean shot away.
Woodwork Denies Palace as City Strike First
Palace came agonisingly close to opening the scoring on 17 minutes when Pino was sent clean through by a superb Adam Wharton chip. His rising effort beat Gianluigi Donnarumma but crashed off the crossbar.
City’s first meaningful effort came just before the half-hour mark, with Phil Foden forcing a smart save from Henderson with a low free-kick.
Despite Palace’s dominance in open play, City struck against the run of play in the 41st minute. Matheus Nunes delivered a dangerous cross from the right, and Erling Haaland powered a header back across goal to give the visitors the lead.
Palace responded immediately, with Mateta twice testing Donnarumma in quick succession before the break, but the Italian goalkeeper stood firm.
Second-Half Pressure, Same Outcome
Palace resumed with intent and hit the woodwork for a second time early in the second half. Wharton dispossessed Nico González before firing a dipping effort that struck the outside of the post.
City, however, always carried a threat. Tijjani Reijnders went close with a low drive across goal, only for Henderson to produce an excellent save with his feet.
Glasner introduced Eddie Nketiah and Will Hughes in search of a breakthrough, but the decisive moment arrived in the 69th minute. City won possession high up the pitch, and Phil Foden was given time and space on the edge of the box to fire a precise low strike past Henderson.
Late Penalty Seals City Victory
Palace continued to push forward, with blocked efforts from Sarr and Hughes and a late chance for Nketiah, but they were unable to beat Donnarumma.
In the closing stages, substitute Savinho was brought down by Henderson after breaking through on goal, allowing Haaland to step up and calmly convert the resulting penalty for his second of the night.
The final whistle confirmed a result that did not fully reflect Palace’s performance, as City’s efficiency proved the difference.
Line-ups
Crystal Palace:
Henderson (GK), Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi, Clyne (Uche, 77), Wharton, Kamada (Hughes, 67), Mitchell, Sarr, Pino, Mateta (Nketiah, 63)
Manchester City:
Donnarumma (GK), Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly (Aït-Nouri, 90+1), Nico, Reijnders (Savinho, 85), Bernardo Silva (c), Foden, Cherki, Haaland (Marmoush, 90+1)
