Manchester United came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 3-2 in their thrilling Monday night encounter at Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace started the game the brighter of the two sides and took advantage of this fast start as Andros Townsend’s deflected shot flew into the top corner, shocking Jose Mourinho’s team with just eleven minutes gone.

Roy Hodgson’s men were better than the visitors in all areas of the pitch in the opening stanza but failed to add to their advantage, leaving the score 1-0 at the break.

The game well and truly livened up in the second half with the Eagles making another fast start. This time it was Patrick van Aanholt with the goal. United switched off as Jeffrey Schlupp played the left back in with a quick free kick and Van Aanholt made no mistake with the finish, 2-0 after 48 minutes.

The Red Devils then hit back, a clearance from a corner kick fell to Antonio Valencia whose deft cross was met at the far post by Chris Smalling who nodded home, 2-1 after 54 minutes.

United then pressed forward in search of an equaliser and it eventually came as a deflected Alexis Sanchez shot hit the crossbar and fell to Romelu Lukaku, who steadied himself and thrashed the ball home through a sea of defenders, 2-2 after 76 minutes.

Mourinho’s men then had David de Gea to thank for keeping the scores level as the Spanish stopper pulled off a world-class save from a Christian Benteke header only a minute after United’s leveller.

The game looked to be heading for a draw and as the clock ticked over into added time but the ball looped out to Nemanja Matic who took a touch and rifled his volley from distance into the top corner leaving Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey with no chance in the 91st minute – a goal worthy of winning any game.

After a poor first-half performance, Manchester United came from behind for the second week in a row to move back above Liverpool into second place ahead of their season-defining clash this weekend.

-This story originally appeared on FourFourTwo.co.za