Man United Vs Crystal Palace: Sesko Header Completes 2-1 Comeback at Old Trafford

Emerson Raymont

Published: March 2, 2026 12:55 AM ET

Man United Vs Crystal Palace: Sesko Header Completes 2-1 Comeback at Old Trafford

Man United Vs Crystal Palace produced a dramatic turnaround as Manchester United recovered from an early Maxence Lacroix opener to win 2-1 at Old Trafford, a result that moved United back up the table and extended their unbeaten run. The match pivoted on a penalty and a red card following a VAR review, events that changed the game and left Palace manager Oliver Glasner disputing the decision.

Maxence Lacroix red card and penalty

Crystal Palace had taken the lead inside the opening minutes when Maxence Lacroix scored, putting the visitors ahead in the fourth minute. The match then swung ten minutes into the second half when Lacroix was penalised for a pull on Matheus Cunha as Cunha ran into the box; referee Chris Kavanagh initially pointed to the spot before a VAR review confirmed both the penalty and a dismissal for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Bruno Fernandes converted the spot kick to level the score.

Benjamin Sesko's winning header

Benjamin Sesko, making his first start under manager Michael Carrick, rose to meet a Bruno Fernandes cross and powered a header into the ground to score the winner eight minutes after the equaliser. The strike was Sesko's fourth goal in five games and capped a comeback that followed the numerical advantage United gained after the red card.

Old Trafford attendance 73, 934 and match momentum

The game at Old Trafford attracted an attendance of 73, 934 and unfolded with Palace controlling significant periods before the penalty. Manchester United had not tested goalkeeper Dean Henderson prior to the Kavanagh decision; once the man advantage arrived, United pressed their momentum, converted the penalty through Fernandes and completed the turnaround with Sesko's header.

Michael Carrick, unbeaten run and table movement

Michael Carrick's side extended their unbeaten Premier League run to 11 games and moved back into the top three of the table for the first time since May 2023. The victory lifted United above Aston Villa in the standings. What makes this notable is how quickly the match direction changed after the VAR intervention: a single defensive foul led to a goal, a red card and a decisive shift in control that United exploited within eight minutes.

Oliver Glasner reaction and Palace performance

Palace manager Oliver Glasner described the decision as harsh and noted his side had played well for the first 30 minutes, saying the penalty and red card decided the contest and suggesting the foul began outside the box. Glasner pointed out the practical challenges his team faced — they were down to ten men for roughly 30 minutes, had played three days earlier while United had a full week to prepare, and have been forced into repeated changes in their back three for weeks. He defended his players' effort and said they had created enough good situations even if two decisive mistakes cost them.

Defensive issues highlighted: Yoro, aerial duels and coaching

The match also exposed defensive vulnerabilities. Yoro was punished from a corner, losing Lacroix and then himself under the ball, a lapse compared with Lisandro Martínez's reported 71% aerial duel win rate this season, a figure second only to Virgil van Dijk. match commentary suggested Jonny Evans and Jonathan Woodgate would be working with Yoro on those situations. That mix of individual errors and inexperience in aerial duels contributed to the late-game instability United capitalised on.

Broader Premier League context: Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Fulham

The evening featured three Premier League fixtures with immediate reactions. Brighton beat Nottingham Forest 2-1, a match settled by Danny Welbeck's first-half winner. Fulham held on to beat Tottenham 2-1, with Alex Iwobi and Andreas Pereira providing finishes; Fulham boss Marco Silva praised Iwobi's goal as one of his best and described Fulham's performance as dynamic and offensively strong. Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira reflected on preparation time, saying eight days to prepare differs from three and that his side lacked the coordination to press effectively in the first half, though he highlighted a stronger second-half response and urged focus on the present and upcoming fixtures.

Late drama and closing moments

In stoppage time Palace pressed for a way back: Guessand found Pino whose shot was saved by Lammens, and a late Zirkzee effort looked like it had gone in before being blocked by a defender identified in commentary as Riad — unclear in the provided context. United saw attempts from Mainoo and Amad as they managed the closing stages; Amad's 23-yard effort was pushed round the post by Dean Henderson. Across the fixtures, Morgan Gibbs-White produced a notable driven goal of his own and Alex Iwobi's Fulham finish was likened to a famous Ronaldinho strike in 2005, underscoring a night of individual moments that shaped three tight results.