Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace Stats: City End Season with Seven-Goal Thriller

City overcome early scares to defeat relegated Palace with Kerolin and Knaak braces in final day entertainment. Explore the key facts & stats in our comprehensive post-match breakdown.

Match Overview

Final Score: Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
Date: May 10, 2025
Competition: WSL Round 22 (Final Day)
Venue: Joie Stadium, Manchester, England

Manchester City secured an impressive 5-2 victory over Crystal Palace in a pulsating WSL finale that exceeded expectations given the lack of competitive stakes. The visitors stunned City with an early lead through Ashleigh Weerden, but Kerolin quickly equalised for the hosts. Palace regained the advantage through Mille Gejl before halftime, but a superb second-half performance saw City score four unanswered goals with Jill Roord, Rebecca Knaak (twice) and Kerolin all finding the net to complete the comeback. The result means that Palace conclude their maiden WSL campaign with just 10 points from 22 matches.

Phases of Play Analysis

First Half (1-2)

The opening period began with a shock for the hosts as Crystal Palace took a surprise lead in the 4th minute through Ashleigh Weerden, assisted by Mille Gejl. City responded well and equalised in the 17th minute through Kerolin's first goal of the match. Despite dominating possession (66% vs 34%), City struggled to convert their territorial advantage into clear-cut opportunities. Palace showed clinical finishing and regained the lead in the 40th minute when Mille Gejl, assisted by Katie Stengel, scored against the run of play to put the visitors 2-1 up at halftime.

First Half Stats Breakdown:

• Manchester City: 4 shots on target from 9 attempts (44% accuracy)

• Crystal Palace: 2 shots on target from 4 attempts (50% accuracy)

• Manchester City passes: 271 (85% accuracy)

• Crystal Palace passes: 122 (74% accuracy)

• Manchester City created more danger with 77% of the attacking momentum

Second Half (4-0)

City manager Nick Cushing made two crucial halftime substitutions, introducing Jill Roord and Aoba Fujino, which transformed the match. The home side increased their dominance, registering 13 shots on target from 22 attempts. Roord equalised in the 64th minute before Knaak put City ahead three minutes later with a header from Hemp's assist. Kerolin added her second in the 86th minute with Fujino providing the assist. Knaak then completed the scoring with her second goal deep into stoppage time, again assisted by Fujino, capping a commanding second-half performance from the hosts.

Second Half Stats Breakdown:

• Manchester City: 13 shots on target from 22 attempts (59% accuracy)

• Crystal Palace: 2 shots on target from 3 attempts (67% accuracy)

• Manchester City passes: 241 (88% accuracy)

• Crystal Palace passes: 128 (76% accuracy)

• Manchester City created 6 big chances with 62% possession

Tactical Analysis

Manchester City's Approach

Manchester City deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation under Nick Cushing, focusing on dominant possession and attacking fluidity, aligning with their league-leading 65% average possession this season. Even without golden boot winner Khadija "Bunny" Shaw (12 goals) and other key attackers Vivianne Miedema and Mary Fowler lost to injury, their tactical approach included:

1. Wing play dominance: 31% accurate crosses with 56 touches in the opposition box

2. Halftime tactical shift: Introducing Roord and Fujino revitalised the attack

3. High press intensity: Winning 57 duels and making 10 interceptions to disrupt Palace's build-up

4. Technical superiority: 86% pass accuracy with 512 completed passes, showcasing their technical ability

5. Width exploitation: Creating overloads on both flanks with Hemp (the league's most effective playmakers who finishes top of the assists charts for 2024/25 WSL season despite playing only 10 matches ) and later Fujino playing key roles

Crystal Palace's Approach

Crystal Palace lined up in a 4-3-3 formation under Leif Gunnar Smerud, focusing on defensive resilience and counter-attacking opportunities, reflecting their season-long struggle with just 41% average possession (league-lowest). Their tactical plan consisted of:

1. Compact defensive block: 32 clearances and 9 interceptions disrupting City's attacking rhythm

2. Direct transitional play: Despite only 36% possession, they created 4 shots on target, exceeding their season average of 2.71.

3. Clinical finishing: Scoring with two of their four shots on target in the first half

4. Organized pressing: Forcing City into mistakes in the early phases

5. Set defensive line: Attempting to catch City forwards offside (7 offsides against City)

Individual Performances

Key Performers - Manchester City

Kerolin (9.3 rating) - Player of the Match

• 2 goals

• 8 shots on target from 11 attempts (73%)

• 18 touches in opposition box

• 9 duels won (53%)

• 7/13 ground duels won (54%)

• Stepped up admirably in the absence of golden boot contender Khadija Shaw (12 goals)

Rebecca Knaak (9.1 rating)

• 2 goals

• 2 shots on target from 3 attempts (67%)

• 68/78 passes completed (87%)

• 9 duels won (69%)

• 13 passes into final third

• Exceptional defensive and offensive contribution

Lauren Hemp (8.5 rating)

• 1 assist

• Created 6 chances (team-high)

• Continued her impressive season (8 assists in just 10 matches)

• Reinforced her status as one of the league's most effective playmakers

• Instrumental in first-half attack before being substituted

Aoba Fujino (8.8 rating)

• 2 assists (both in second half)

• 1 shot on target from 2 attempts (50%)

• 5 chances created

• 15/18 passes completed (83%)

• 3/6 accurate crosses (50%)

• Game-changing impact as a halftime substitute

Jess Park (6.3 rating)

• Started the match but replaced at halftime

• Failed to make significant impact despite pre-match expectations

• Limited to just 21 touches in 45 minutes

• Struggled to shoulder the additional responsibility in City's injury-depleted attack

Key Performers - Crystal Palace

Mille Gejl (8.2 rating)

• 1 goal, 1 assist

• 1 shot on target (100%)

• 20/26 passes completed (77%)

• 6 passes into final third

• 2 interceptions

• Standout performer for a team struggling throughout the season

Katie Stengel (7.7 rating)

• 1 assist

• 2 shots on target from 3 attempts (67%)

• 22/27 passes completed (81%)

• 9 duels won (60%)

• 6/10 aerial duels won (60%)

• Confirmed her status as one of Palace's few attacking threats (joint top scorer with 4 goals this season)

Ashleigh Weerden (6.5 rating)

• 1 goal (early opener)

• 1 shot on target from 2 attempts (50%)

• 28 touches before being substituted in 90th minute

• Provided early hope for Palace with clinical finish

• Struggled to maintain influence as match progressed

Shae Yanez (7.5 rating)

• 12 saves from 17 shots on target (71%)

• 8 saves inside box

• 9 diving saves

• 19/46 passes completed (41%)

• 18 recoveries

• Made numerous impressive stops despite conceding five goals

• Performance typical of Palace's season-long defensive struggles (league-worst 65 goals conceded)

Momentum Analysis

1. Minutes 1-3: Strong Palace momentum (+100%) culminating in Weerden's goal

2. Minutes 16-17: City surge (+27%) leading to Kerolin's equaliser

3. Minutes 21-23: Peak City momentum (+100%) creating multiple chances

4. Minutes 39-41: Palace momentum spike (-62%) coinciding with Gejl's goal

5. Minutes 50-51: Strong City momentum (+92%) at the start of second half

6. Minutes 63-67: Critical City period (+5%) with Roord and Knaak scoring

7. Minutes 81-86: Decisive City momentum (+49%) leading to Kerolin's second goal

8. Minutes 90-94: Final City push culminating in Knaak's second goal

Substitution Impact

Manchester City's substitutions:

• Laura Coombs → Jill Roord (46'): Rating difference +2.26, game-changing impact with goal

• Jessica Park → Aoba Fujino (46'): Rating difference +2.57, transformed attack with two assists

• Lauren Hemp → Laura Blindkilde (68'): Rating difference -1.77, maintained attacking momentum

Crystal Palace's substitutions:

• Ria Öling → Felicity Gibbons (79'): Rating difference -0.52, struggled to stem City's attacking flow

• Abbie Larkin → Clarissa Larisey (79'): Rating difference +0.06, minimal impact

• Ashleigh Weerden → My Cato (90+2'): Minimal impact with limited time

• Katie Stengel → Chloe Arthur (90+2'): Minimal impact with limited time

Set Piece Analysis

Set pieces played a secondary role in both teams' attacking threat:

• Corners: Manchester City 6, Crystal Palace 0

• Accurate crosses: Manchester City 9/29 (31%), Crystal Palace 1/6 (17%)

• City created several dangerous moments from set pieces with Fujino delivering 3 corners in the second half

• Palace defended resolutely from set-piece situations in the first half

Season Context

This final day fixture saw both teams playing for pride rather than points, with a significant 30-point gap separating them in the league table:

1. Manchester City's Season: Finished 4th with 43 points from 22 matches (including this win)

   • Led the league in possession (65%)

   • Finished with 49 goals scored, 28 conceded

   • Struggled with attacking injuries in season's final stretch

   • Below expectations given pre-season ambitions

2. Crystal Palace's Relegation Season: Finished 12th and last with 10 points from 22 matches (W2 D4 L16)

   • Final -44 goal difference (league-worst)

   • Averaged just 41% possession throughout season (league-lowest)

   • Generated fewest shots per match (8.0)

   • Conceded 65 goals (league-worst)

Key Match Insights

1. Final Day Freedom: With nothing at stake, both teams played with freedom resulting in an entertaining spectacle

2. Second Half Transformation: City's tactical adjustments and substitutions completely changed the match dynamics

3. Individual Quality: Kerolin stepped up in the absence of injured Shaw (joint-golden boot winner with 12 goals)

4. Technical Superiority: City's superior pass accuracy (86% vs 75%) highlighted their technical advantage

Conclusion

Manchester City's 5-2 victory over Crystal Palace provided an entertaining conclusion to the WSL season for both teams. Despite the end-of-season context with neither side having anything tangible to play for, the teams delivered a seven-goal thriller that exceeded expectations.

The match perfectly encapsulated both teams' seasons:

1. City's technical superiority and attacking prowess (even without key injured players like Shaw, Miedema, and Fowler)

2. Palace's occasional attacking threat but fundamental defensive vulnerabilities

3. The quality gap between established WSL sides and those struggling to establish themselves in the top flight

4. City's ability to adapt and overcome through tactical changes, showcasing their squad depth

5. Palace's competitive spirit despite their relegated status, hinting at potential for future improvement

For City, this victory provides a positive ending to a somewhat disappointing season where they fell short of title contention and a European place. For Palace, despite the defeat, moments of quality offer some encouragement as they prepare for life in the Championship next season and a potential future return to the WSL.