• Anthony Martial celebrates after scoring Manchester United's first goal in their 3-1 pre-season friendly win over Crystal Palace at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia, on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. EPA
    Anthony Martial celebrates after scoring Manchester United's first goal in their 3-1 pre-season friendly win over Crystal Palace at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia, on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. EPA
  • Jadon Sancho scores for Manchester United. Getty
    Jadon Sancho scores for Manchester United. Getty
  • United midfielder Bruno Fernandes controls the ball. EPA
    United midfielder Bruno Fernandes controls the ball. EPA
  • Palace substutute goalkeeper Remi Matthews makes a save. Getty
    Palace substutute goalkeeper Remi Matthews makes a save. Getty
  • Palace defender Joel Ward, centre, is congratulated by teammates after scoring. AP
    Palace defender Joel Ward, centre, is congratulated by teammates after scoring. AP
  • United attacker Marcus Rashford makes it 2-0 against Crystal Palace. AFP
    United attacker Marcus Rashford makes it 2-0 against Crystal Palace. AFP
  • Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta shoots at goal. EPA
    Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta shoots at goal. EPA
  • Palace captain Luka Milivojevic controls the ball. AFP
    Palace captain Luka Milivojevic controls the ball. AFP
  • United's Marcus Rashford under pressure from Palace full-back Nathaniel Clyne. AP
    United's Marcus Rashford under pressure from Palace full-back Nathaniel Clyne. AP
  • United's Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring. AFP
    United's Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring. AFP
  • Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland is treated for a hand injury. EPA
    Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland is treated for a hand injury. EPA
  • United attacker Jadon Sancho makes it 3-0. AFP
    United attacker Jadon Sancho makes it 3-0. AFP
  • United's Jadon Sancho celebrates with Diogo Dalot after scoring. AFP
    United's Jadon Sancho celebrates with Diogo Dalot after scoring. AFP
  • Palace attacker Jordan Ayew is tackled by United midfielder Scott McTominay. Getty
    Palace attacker Jordan Ayew is tackled by United midfielder Scott McTominay. Getty
  • Anthony Martial scores for United in the first half. AFP
    Anthony Martial scores for United in the first half. AFP
  • Crystal Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland in pain after saving a first-half shot from Anthony Martial. Butland was forced off due to the injury. Getty
    Crystal Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland in pain after saving a first-half shot from Anthony Martial. Butland was forced off due to the injury. Getty
  • Joel Ward heads home for Crystal Palace. Getty
    Joel Ward heads home for Crystal Palace. Getty
  • Anthony Martial celebrates after scoring for Manchester United. Getty
    Anthony Martial celebrates after scoring for Manchester United. Getty
  • Palace defender Joachim Andersen clears the ball. Getty
    Palace defender Joachim Andersen clears the ball. Getty
  • United attacker Anthony Martial scores the opening goal. AFP
    United attacker Anthony Martial scores the opening goal. AFP
  • Fireworks before the match at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Getty
    Fireworks before the match at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Getty

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire booed by Melbourne crowd in 3-1 Crystal Palace win


  • English
  • Arabic

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire was mercilessly booed by the Melbourne crowd during the opening stages of Tuesday's promising friendly win against absentee-hit Crystal Palace.

Just a week after manager Erik ten Hag confirmed the defender would retain the armband, the 29-year-old found himself coming under fire from sections of the crowd in Australia.

Maguire had avoided a negative reaction in Bangkok and United's first friendly at the MCG, but the centre-back was jeered during the start of Tuesday's 3-1 victory against Patrick Vieira's Palace.

The England international appeared to win over supporters with an impressive showing and the boos subsided during a first half that saw Anthony Martial score in a third successive friendly.

The Frenchman was involved in an excellent team goal finished off by Marcus Rashford early in the second half and flicked through for Jadon Sancho to finish another well-worked move.

David De Gea will be disappointed not to have kept out Joel Ward's header and Will Fish was sent off but it was another largely positive night for new-look United.

There were 76,499 in attendance at the MCG, where Maguire's every touch was jeered during the opening stages.

Manchester United training - in pictures

  • Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay during a training session at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday, July 17. All photos by Getty
    Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay during a training session at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday, July 17. All photos by Getty
  • United midfielder Bruno Fernandes during training in Melbourne.
    United midfielder Bruno Fernandes during training in Melbourne.
  • Manchester United players line-up at training. (Back row, left to right:) Bruno Fernandes, Will Fish, Tom Heaton, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Marcus Rashford, (front row:) Facundo Pellistri, Tyrell Malacia, Hannibal Mejbri, Zidane Iqbal.
    Manchester United players line-up at training. (Back row, left to right:) Bruno Fernandes, Will Fish, Tom Heaton, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Marcus Rashford, (front row:) Facundo Pellistri, Tyrell Malacia, Hannibal Mejbri, Zidane Iqbal.
  • United attacker Jadon Sancho on the ball during training.
    United attacker Jadon Sancho on the ball during training.
  • United summer signing Tyrell Malacia during the training session at AAMI Park.
    United summer signing Tyrell Malacia during the training session at AAMI Park.
  • Scott McTominay, left, and Luke Shaw during United's training session at AAMI Park.
    Scott McTominay, left, and Luke Shaw during United's training session at AAMI Park.
  • Bottom to top: Scott McTominay, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw and Anthony Elanga during United's training session at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
    Bottom to top: Scott McTominay, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw and Anthony Elanga during United's training session at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
  • Manager Erik ten Hag of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia.
    Manager Erik ten Hag of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at AAMI Park in Melbourne, Australia.

The United skipper showed impressive fortitude by responding with solid, composed defending that led to the abuse tapering off.

Those pantomime boos took attention away from some bright United play.

Jack Butland injured his hand when impressively denying Martial and substitute Palace goalkeeper Remi Matthews was soon picking the ball out of his net.

Tyrell Malacia looked bright on his first United start and played over to Diogo Dalot, who hooked a left-footed cross in for Martial to control and strike home from close range in the 17th minute.

Malcolm Ebiowei – a player United looked at in the summer – forced De Gea into a good save but Ten Hag's side continued to be in the ascendancy.

There was a noticeably warm reaction aimed Maguire's way after he fizzed a shot just wide before the break and the second half was just three minutes old when United scored a fine team goal.

Martial picked the ball out of the sky and laid off to Sancho, who played the Frenchman through with a defence-splitting pass. Martial beat Matthews to the ball and touched wide to substitute Donny van de Beek, whose cross was turned home by Rashford on the edge of the box.

Bruno Fernandes lashed over and fumed at Jordan Ayew after being on the receiving end of a poor challenge, before United scored another fine team goal.

The move started with De Gea and ended with Martial flicking on a Rashford pass for Sancho to race through and slot home in the 59th minute.

The offside flag denied Jean-Philippe Mateta a goal for Palace, but Ward's header would soon beat De Gea from the corner that had come from the United goalkeeper denying Ademola Ola-Adebomi.

Substitute United defender Fish was sent off for bringing down Victor Akinwale in the closing stages.

Updated: July 19, 2022, 12:58 PM