Jordan Ayew scored a route one goal for Crystal Palace but despite a late equaliser by Daniel James there was injury time heartbreak for Manchester United as Patrick van Aanholt beat David De Gea at his near post.
It was Palace’s first win against United since 1989 and visiting fans celebrated in the roasting August heat at Old Trafford.
Marcus Rashford had earlier missed a penalty for the Reds who had ample chances to outscore the Eagles but were frustrated and by poor shooting a brave blocks by the visitors.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer named an unchanged team after their Monday night draw at Wolves with Diogo Dalot ruled out until after the international break with injury.
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson handed Gary Cahill a debut at centre half.
Things didn’t go to plan for United as, despite an early onslaught, it was Palace who took the lead through a very route one goal with Ayew sent clean through in the first half after Jeffrey Schlupp won Vincente Gaite’s long punt upfield.
After much publicised penalty calamity against Wolves on Monday, it was almost inevitable that there would be another spot kick at Old Trafford.
This came to pass in the 71st minute after Scott McTominay was tipped by Luka Milivojevic.
This time the penalty taker was definitely Marcus Rashford but the England forward thumped his spot kick into the inside of the left upright and out of play.
Daniel James thought he had saved a point for United with a minute to go when he curled an 89th minute equaliser in at the Stretford End.
But Rashford’s miss proved to be costly after Patrick van Aanholt’s powerful shot beat David De Gea at his near post when Aaron Wan-Bisska blocked Zaha’s shot only to see the rebound fall to the Dutch left back.
PLAYER RATINGS – Man Utd 1, Crystal Palace 2
David De Gea: 5. Beaten by Jordan Ayew, saved from Wilfried Zaha, but was beaten at his near post by Patrick van Aanholt for Crystal Palace’s winner.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 6. Warm welcome from visiting fans – unlucky as his late block saw the ball fall to his ex-team mate Patrick van Aanholt for the Palace winner.
Harry Maguire: 7. No threat to deal with until the goal and he was nowhere near Ayew for the goal. Was otherwise solid.
Victor Lindelof: 6. Lost the header against Jeffrey Schlupp that led to Jordan Ayew’s goal.
Luke Shaw: 6. Felt his right hamstring midway through the first half after good start and had to go off.
Scott McTominay: 7. Hard working in the midfield engine room. His header went over the bar. Won a penalty with a driving run into the Palace box.
Paul Pogba: 6. Some good moments but generally anonymous and lacklustre.
Jesse Lingard: 6. Drew a few fouls as he ran into Palace players – hooked for Mason Greenwood to popular applause around Old Trafford.
Marcus Rashford: 6. Dangerous on set pieces and was denied a late penalty after a VAR check but missed a crucial spot kick.
Daniel James: 7. Twice had shots blocked by Patrick van Aanholt, his blistering pace caused problems and he scored a late equaliser but was booked again for diving again.
Anthony Martial: 6. Could have opened the scoring early. Got frustrated and tried to claim a penalty when pushed to the ground by Martin Kelly in the second half.
Ashley Young (on for Luke Shaw 34): 6. Offered attacking threat.
Mason Greenwood (on for Jesse Lingard 56): 6. No service and little affect on United going forward.
Juan Mata (on for Scott McTominay, 85): No time to mark
GOALS – Man Utd 1, Crystal Palace 2
Man Utd 0, Crystal Palace 1: 32. Jordan Ayew was given a free run on goal when Vicente Guaita route one ball up field was won by Jeffrey Schlupp in the air despite attention from Victor Lindelof and Ayew drilled the loose ball low past David De Gea
Man Utd 1, Crystal Palace 1: 89. Daniel James curled in another corking goal after Anthony Martial’s 1-2 with Marcus Rashford created the space following a mistake by Wilfried Zaha.
Man Utd 1, Crystal Palace 2: 90+3. Aaron Wan Bissaka’s block clearance off Wilfied Zaha fell as far as Patrick van Aanholt who powerfully drilled the ball back in and off the gloves of David De Gea to restore the lead.
MANCHESTER UNITED MISSED PENALTY
69. Following a layoff by Anthony Martial, Scott McTominay was tripped by Luka Milivojevic. Marcus Rashford immediately stepped up to take it but struck his penalty into the left upright and it flew out of play.
MATCH STATS – Man Utd 1, Crystal Palace 2
Man Utd: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw (Young 34), McTominay (Mata 85), Pogba, Lingard (Greenwood 56), Rashford, James, Martial
Man Utd Subs not used: Romero, Pereira, Matic, Tuanzebe
Booked: Wan-Bissaka 46 (tug on Jeffrey Schlupp), James 71 (diving)
Goal: James 89
Crystal Palace: Guaita, Ward, Cahill, Kelly, van Aanholt, McArthur, Milivojevic, Kouyate (McCarthy 83), Zaha, J Ayew (Benteke 75), Schlupp (Townsend 80)
Crystal Palace Subs not used: Hennessey, Dann, Meyer, Wickham
Booked: Milivojevic 38 (foul on Jesse Lingard), Cahill 41 (trip on Anthony Martial), Zaha (hauling down Daniel James 79), Guaita 86 (time wasting)
Goals: J Ayew 32, Van Aanholt 90+3
Referee: Paul Tierney
Attendance: 73,454