Sesko Header Seals Man United Comeback After Lacroix Sees Red

Manchester United climbed to third in the Premier League with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, overturning an early deficit after defender Maxence Lacroix went from hero to villain inside 65 minutes.

The French centre-back opened the scoring on four minutes, powerfully heading Brennan Johnson’s corner beyond André Onana after out-jumping Leny Yoro at the near post. Palace’s lead held until the interval as United laboured for fluency, Casemiro’s glancing header that drifted inches wide of the far post representing their clearest opening.

The complexion of the contest shifted irrevocably in the 54th minute. Lacroix, already on a yellow, hauled down Matheus Cunha as the Brazilian darted into the area. Referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot and, following a VAR review, upgraded the punishment to a straight red for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

Bruno Fernandes rifled the resulting penalty high to Dean Henderson’s left in the 57th minute to level matters, and the United captain was instrumental again eight minutes later. Drifting wide to collect a loose ball, Fernandes delivered an inviting cross toward the penalty spot where January signing Benjamin Sesko rose above Joel Ward to plant a downward header inside the right-hand corner.

The goal was the Slovenian’s sixth in the league since the turn of the year—only Brentford’s Igor Thiago has more in 2026—and his second decisive strike in five days after breaking Everton’s resistance on Monday.

Down to ten men, Palace rarely threatened an equaliser. United monopolised possession, registering 20 shots to the visitors’ eight and an expected-goals tally of 2.05 compared with 0.38 for the Eagles. Henderson produced smart saves to deny Casemiro and Amad Diallo, but the hosts never looked in serious danger of relinquishing their advantage.

The win preserves Michael Carrick’s immaculate record across two interim stints, extending his haul to 23 points from nine league fixtures (W7 D2). That equals the best-ever nine-game start by a Premier League manager, matching Ange Postecoglou’s 23-point burst. United leapfrog Aston Villa into third on goal difference, intensifying the battle for Champions League qualification with eight matches remaining.

For Palace, Lacroix’s dismissal continues a unwanted trend: he becomes only the second opposition player to score and be sent off at Old Trafford in Premier League history, after Michael Owen for Liverpool in April 1998, and the first Eagles player to achieve the feat home or away since Christian Benteke versus West Ham in December 2020.

United, meanwhile, have now trailed in five league fixtures this calendar year yet remain unbeaten in those games (W2 D3), their longest such streak since winning five straight after falling behind between November 2020 and January 2021.