Anthony Martial has continued his strong start to Manchester United’s pre-season, scoring for the third straight game as the Red Devils secured a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace at the MCG.
Martial volleyed home in the 18th minute on Tuesday night, adding to goals scored against Liverpool and Melbourne Victory in previous exhibition matches.
Slicing the Palace defence apart with ease, United then increased its lead through Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho in the second stanza, before Joel Ward struck back for Palace.
It’s a strong start to life under new United coach Erik ten Hag for Martial, who ended the 2021-22 campaign loaned out to Spanish club Sevilla.
Despite his side’s third-straight pre-season win, though, the night was not as happy an occasion for United captain Harry Maguire, who was booed by his own fans whenever he touched the ball across the opening half hour.
MARTIAL OPENS THE SCORING FOR MAN UNITED! 🔥
A delicious delivery from Dalot hits Martial on the money to give @ManUtd a 1-0 lead over @CPFC!
Watch the Winter Festival of Football, live on @Channel10AU and @ParamountPlus pic.twitter.com/Z7TU1QjE3Z
— 10 Football (@10FootballAU) July 19, 2022
The 29-year-old received a less hostile reception during his side’s 4-1 win over Victory at the same venue days prior but was previously booed by United fans during the last Premier League season.
Despite the jeers, the defender who was backed by ten Hag the day prior, played a stout game and by the time the second half commenced the taunts had vanished.
RASHFORD DOUBLES THE RED DEVILS LEAD!
Some scintillating team play from @ManUtd doubles their lead to 2-0!
Watch the Winter Festival of Football, live on @Channel10AU, 10 Bold and @ParamountPlus#MUNCRY #MUFC #CPFC pic.twitter.com/88AsqRviDd
— 10 Football (@10FootballAU) July 19, 2022
Martial opened the scoring after being found with a cross from Diogo Dalot, chesting down the ball and volleying past Remi Mathews, who had replaced Jack Butland minutes prior after the Palace keeper injured his hand.
Mathews was then rendered helpless in the second half when Martial, Jadon Sancho and Donny van de Beek set Rashford up to score in the 49th minute.
SANCHO MAKES IT THREE! 👌
Some brilliant ball movement from Manchester United – as the Red Devils go end-to-end to extend their lead to 3-0 #MUNCRY #MUFC #CPFC pic.twitter.com/J7FVyeqLcx
— 10 Football (@10FootballAU) July 19, 2022
Then Rashford and Martial combined to put Sancho through to score on the hour.
Both sides rotating heavily before Ward struck from a Luka Milivojevic corner in the 74th to drag it back to 3-1.
PALACE GET ONE BACK!@CPFC strike back from the set piece as Joel Ward nods one home at near-post#MUNCRY #MUFC #CPFC pic.twitter.com/6TOWvBVV5o
— 10 Football (@10FootballAU) July 19, 2022
