Erik ten Hag shook his head in sheer frustration after suffering a cruel late twist.
Manchester United’s winning streak, they were heading for a tenth straight victory, was stopped in its tracks deep into Fergie time.
It ended in a draw but it probably felt more like a defeat to ten Hag who saw his team blow the chance to go second and to really announce themselves in the title race.
Bruno Fernandes had put United ahead, it all seemed to be going to plan and yet they failed to kill the game off and ended up paying a heavy price.
Michael Olise’s brilliant curling free kick in the 91st minute stunned United, brought Selhurst Park to life and left United’s players looking absolutely shell-shocked.
United of course have spent years snatching late goals ever since the all-conquering days of Sir Alex Ferguson and they will not get much sympathy from any neutrals.
But the United fans will be cursing a missed chance to go second, to close the gap on leaders Arsenal to six points which could have been down to three with another win at the Emirates on Sunday.
Instead, they were left with a string of what ifs rather than another victory and a cruel lesson about not putting the game to bed.
It was also a bad night for United midfielder Casemiro whose booking for a brutal foul on Palace’s Wilfried Zaha means he is now suspended for the game at Arsenal.
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That almost signalled the start of the rot for United as the yellow card came after 80 minutes, Palace stepped up the pressure and eventually got their rewards.
Ten Hag looked to the heavens when the final whistle blew, some United players looked to the floor as they will know they dropped two points and have only got themselves to blame.
But maybe Palace deserved something after all because they never gave up and Patrick Vieira will be proud of his players and their never-say-die spirit.
They had struggled through the game but did force David de Gea into two superb saves, the first of which from Odsonne Edouard’s dipping shot which the United keeper touched onto the bar.
United were far from their best but took the lead after 43 minutes. Marcus Rashford started things, Christian Eriksen produced a lovely piece of skill as his cut back for Fernandes was his seventh assist of the season.
Fernandes curled a lovely shot into the top corner for his 40th Premier League goal in his Old Trafford career which is the most from a United midfielder since Paul Scholes who chalked up 107. And what a free signing Eriksen has been.
Casemiro was involved in a bizarre incident in the second half as, during a break in play, a fan ran onto the pitch, asked the United midfielder for a selfie and the stewards almost let him get the picture before intervening. After last weekend, it was not a good look.
United were denied a penalty appeal after Scott McTominay went tumbling under Chris Richards; challenge. It then went from bad to worse when Casemiro got booked. De Gea made a brilliant save from Palace defender Marc Guehi and you could feel the pressure building.
United sunk deeper into their own half and were clinging on when Luke Shaw clumsily fouled Jeffrey Schlupp to concede a free kick as the game hit injury time. Olise then curled a superb free kick over and round the wall before it crashed in off the crossbar. What a finish.
