Crystal Palace FC's first-ever major European adventure is underway, as we battle to win the UEFA Conference League. Find out how you can join us on our journey.

European Tour

## Born in the USA

> After a remarkable two-year journey from Alabama to Bayern Munich, Chris Richards fulfilled a lifelong dream when he moved to the Premier League with Crystal Palace in 2022.

Born in Alabama, USA, Richards began his career near Houston before joining F.C. Dallas’ Academy and earning a professional contract there.

He moved to Houston and then Dallas aged 16 – both over 600 miles from his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, where his parents still live – and initially lived alone with a host family. He then made the even larger jump of joining Bayern Munich aged 18, where he learnt fluent German and made his senior debut shortly after signing.

From here Richards’ rise was swift: he made his senior debut in a friendly against Paris Saint-Germain in 2018, his professional debut with Bayern Munich II in 2019, and his full Bayern debut in June 2020. A few months later he featured as a substitute in the German side’s DFL-Supercup win over Borussia Dortmund.

The young defender went on to represent Bayern in the Bundesliga and Champions League before joining 1899 Hoffenheim on loan in 2021. He has played a total of 82 professional matches.

Richards began his international career early, too, competing with the US Under-20s to win the CONCACAF U20 Championship aged 18. His performances at this level earned him a senior debut in November 2020, coming on as a substitute against Panama. Richards has since amassed seven further caps.

He made his debut for the Eagles at Anfield as a second-half substitute in August 2022. Richards went on to make his first start for the club, after a leg injury, in January 2023 in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Selhurst Park.

Commenting on his first start he said: “It was worth the wait! Being able to make it \[my first Premier League start\] at home, especially in a game like tonight, was amazing."

His performances against Manchester United home and away, along with keeping a clean sheet against Newcastle United, saw him win the club's Player of the Month award in January 2023.

Richards' first domestic season in red and blue ended with 10 appearances in total, however he also managed to score his first international goal in the final of the CONCACAF Nations League against Canada to guide the United States to a 2-0 win.

The 2023/24 campaign saw Richards establish more of a place in the side, playing multiple roles as a centre-back, defensive midfielder and even as a right-back. He racked up 30 appearances in total, and scored his first goal against Burnley in a 3-0 win at Selhurst Park in February 2024.

Richards also found CONCACAF Nations League success once more, winning the title again in a 2-0 win over Mexico in March 2024. He was also recognised for his exceptional work with the Palace for Life Foundation - winning the PFA Community Champion award.

In 2024/25, Richards made 32 appearances across all competitions - six of which were in the FA Cup, where he played every single minute on the way to making history in the final against Manchester City.

2020

IFFHS Men's World Youth Team

January 2023

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

2023/24

PFA Community Champion

Richards

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Off the back of a goalscoring display against Fiorentina in midweek, the forward was introduced midway through the second-half with Palace trailing to a scrambled effort from Will Osula late in the first-half.

And with Selhurst and the Holmesdale at its very loudest, Mateta first stooped to nod in Tyrick Mitchell’s pull-back on 80 minutes – the full-back capping his 200th Premier League appearance with an assist – before the Frenchman converted a penalty kick deep into injury time to complete the late victory.

Palace’s win sees them leapfrog Newcastle and move up to 13th in the table with seven games to go.

### Summary:

- Five changes for Palace following 3-0 win over Fiorentina, with fully-rotated midfield and forward lines.
- Mitchell becomes youngest Palace player to reach 200 Premier League appearance.s
- **19:** Richards makes an important clearance from Livramento’s teasing ball.
- **22:** Lacroix puts in a vital challenge on Gordon as Newcastle threaten on the break.
- **35:** Pino and Muñoz force Ramsdale into impressive double save in first clear chances of the half.
- **37:** Canvot reaches Pino’s corner ahead of Ramsdale but, disorientated, heads over.
- **39:** Mitchell’s teasing cross almost pops up for Muñoz; Hall defends it well.
- **43 – Goal:** Osula pounces in front of goal to give Newcastle the lead.
- **HT: Palace 0-1 Newcastle**
- **50:** Henderson makes a vital low stop from Osula to keep Palace in the contest.
- **62:** Pino bends high and wide after stepping onto Mitchell’s pull-back.
- **65:** Glasner makes a triple change as Eagles seek a way back into the match.
- **69:** Lerma thumps a header against the crossbar from Pino’s set-piece delivery.
- **80 – GOAL:** Mateta heads home from Mitchell’s cute pass to earn Palace parity.
- **90+3:** Botman pulls back Lerma from a long throw, and a penalty is awarded.
- **90+4 – GOAL:** Mateta’s emphatic spot-kick seals the late turnaround.
- **FT: Palace 2-1 Newcastle**

Match Action: Crystal Palace 2-1 Newcastle United

Palace went into the game little under three days after of one of Selhurst’s all-time greatest evenings: a 3-0 win over Fiorentina in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals.

Perhaps with the second leg in mind – as well as the physical threat Newcastle are renowned for posing – Oliver Glasner fully rotated his front line for Sunday’s match, with Yéremy Pino, Jørgen Strand Larsen and Brennan Johnson all starting, and Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes coming into midfield.

There was more to celebrate elsewhere, however, with Tyrick Mitchell – at 26 years old, seven months and 11 days – becoming the youngest-ever Palace player to reach 200 Premier League appearances for the club, our fifth-highest appearance-maker in the competition beating Wilfried Zaha’s record.

Palace matches with Newcastle at Selhurst Park have often been tight, tense affairs – just eight goals in the last five such fixtures in SE25 in the Premier League – and the first-half certainly lived up to that billing.

With Newcastle having enjoyed a three-week break in between matches, and Palace likewise, the half – played in the South London sunshine – took a while to come to the boil, with only threatening deliveries from the two teams’ right-sided full-backs – Daniel Muñoz for Palace and Tino Livramento for the visitors – truly threatening early on.

Despite that, Pino – lively in midweek – was looking a threat for Palace again with some driving runs from deep, and clever link-ups with Strand Larsen.

But at the other end, all three of Jaydee Canvot and Maxence Lacroix were forced to make important block tackles on Will Osula and Anthony Gordon respectively to prevent them from getting shots away on the break.

It wasn’t until 35 minutes in that either goalkeeper was truly tested – and Pino was the producer of the chance, jinking in from the left and bending a dipping effort towards the far corner.

Aaron Ramsdale got down to meet it in the Newcastle goal, the ball fizzing back out to Muñoz who – with not much of the goal to aim at – managed to get his first-time rebound on target. To Ramsdale’s credit, the ‘keeper sprung back up to his feet and got a fist on it to prevent the strike from nestling into the back of the net.

The moment seemed to inspire Palace for a 10-minute spell of concerted pressure, and moments later, Pino’s corner found Canvot inside the six-yard box. The Frenchman leapt high and met it ahead of Ramsdale – he was unsighted, however, and could only head over the bar.

And seconds later, Muñoz came close again when Mitchell’s whipped delivery cleared Pino at the near post, bouncing up for the Colombian to attack; Lewis Hall did well to divert it back to Ramsdale for Newcastle.

Then, on the stroke of half-time – and somewhat against the run of play – Newcastle took the lead.

A passing triangle on the right wing from Jacob Murphy, Sandro Tonali and Lewis Miley saw the latter flash a low ball in which Lacroix met on the slide. The intervention took the pace of the cross, but it still managed to reach Osula, who did well to adjust on the floor and shovel the ball beyond Dean Henderson.

It was a harsh reflection on the first-half from a Palace perspective – but Newcastle almost doubled their lead in the early stages of the second-half.

A slack pass at the back saw Osula run in behind and, although Lacroix did well to force him wide, the forward still got a shot across goal away, one which Henderson did brilliantly to kick away with his legs and keep his team in the contest.

From there, Palace resumed their general dominance, with Pino ever-lively; on 62 minutes, the Spaniard took a clever touch onto Mitchell’s pull-back, opening up his body to curl towards the near post – the effort cleared the crossbar.

On 65 minutes, Glasner looked to bring in further attacking inspiration, as Adam Wharton, Ismaïla Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta – the latter two goalscorers in midweek – entered the field of play in one fell swoop.

And just four minutes later, after Mateta had won a free-kick in a promising position out wide, Pino swung the ball in and Lerma – yards out, perhaps too close to goal if anything – crashed a thumping header square against the crossbar.

Newcastle posed a few problems with aerial balls in the next quarter-of-an-hour, but it was Palace creating the real threat.

And then, on 80 minutes, the fully-deserved equaliser. The move was kickstarted by Canvot driving the ball through midfield, allowing second-half substitute Daichi Kamada to spray it out to Muñoz.

His fizzed cross evaded the two attackers in support but reached Mitchell who, on his landmark day and on his left foot, looked set to shoot.

Out raced Ramsdale – only to be deceived by our No. 3, who instead clipped it back towards Mateta, who – days after returning to the scoresheet against Fiorentina – nodded into the unguarded net for his first Premier League goal since, following his injury, New Year's Day.

But Palace weren’t done there – not by a long stretch.

With Newcastle looking increasingly threatening in the closing stages, the Eagles held their ground amidst a late aerial siege.

And with the final seconds of the match looming, Chris Richards launched in a long throw which led to Sven Botman taking a chunk of Lerma's sleeve, the referee awarding the spot kick.

Up stepped a Mateta flowing with confidence, with the chance to win in with 95 minutes on the clock.

Win it he did, burying the ball beyond the dive of Ramsdale and into the bottom-right corner to send Selhurst – for the second time in three days – into a state of delirium.

What a start to the season run-in it has been.

**Palace:** Henderson (GK), Richards, Lacroix, Canvot, Muñoz, Hughes (Wharton, 65), Lerma, Mitchell (Sosa, 90+6), Johnson (Sarr, 65), Strand Larsen (Mateta, 65), Pino (Kamada, 76).

**Subs:** Benítez (GK), Clyne, Riad, Devenny.

**Newcastle:** Ramsdale (GK), Livramento, Botman, Thiaw, Hall, Joelinton, Tonali (Wissa, 90+5), Miley (Ramsey, 85), Murphy (Elanga, 90+5), Osula (Woltemade, 85), Gordon (Barnes, 71).

**Subs:** Pope (GK), Trippier, Burn, Willock.

### As It Happened

Jean-Philippe Mateta came off the bench to strike twice late in the second-half, as Selhurst Park roared Crystal Palace to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Newcastle United.

Report & Highlights: Sensational Selhurst roars Palace to stunning late comeback

Crystal Palace v Newcastle United (2026-04-12)

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Get ready for Europe!

Crystal Palace produced a phenomenal late comeback to best Newcastle United at Selhurst Park – with the best images of matchday in our gallery below!

Matchday Gallery: Eagles defeat Magpies in South London sunshine

Crystal Palace produced a stunning second-half Selhurst turnaround to see off Newcastle United in SE25 – and you can now vote for your Player of the Match below!

Choose your Player of the Match from late win over Newcastle!

Match reports

Match reports

Report & Highlights: Sensational Selhurst roars Palace to stunning late comeback

Matchday Gallery: Eagles defeat Magpies in South London sunshine

Choose your Player of the Match from late win over Newcastle!

Get ready for Europe!

26Chris
Richards

Match reports

Match reports

Report & Highlights: Sensational Selhurst roars Palace to stunning late comeback

Matchday Gallery: Eagles defeat Magpies in South London sunshine

Choose your Player of the Match from late win over Newcastle!

Get ready for Europe!

26ChrisRichards

26Chris
Richards