If there’s one thing football hasn’t yet perfected, it’s the penalty shoot-out. A cruel way to settle a game, defined often by luck as much as skill – surely there is another way? Believe it or not, there was, as those in attendance at Selhurst Park on this day (23rd March) in 1981 witnessed.
It was a trans-Atlantic meeting, as the Minnesota Kicks became the second side from the United States to visit Selhurst Park.
Minnesota played their football in the North American Soccer League (NASL), the precursor to today’s Major League Soccer (MLS).
This was before Palace had broken the Premier League, before the Premier League had broken America – before the Premier League had began to exist.
Minnesota had a former Palace man in their ranks, as Stewart Jump made his return to Selhurst Park.
And although the attendance was not vast – estimated by newspaper reports to be around the 2,000 mark – the entertainment was plentiful.
Les Carter put the Eagles ahead when Jump brought down Jerry Murphy for a penalty, but the side from the States hit back immediately through Alan Wiley (not that one) to even the scores.
Regardless, a shoot-out had already been arranged, irrespective of the final result. So... was the tie to be decided from 12 yards?
Not a bit of it.
Instead, the American-style shoot-out took place. Players picked up the ball 35-yards from goal, and had five seconds to dribble goalwards and find the back of the net, either attempting to round the ‘keeper and slot home or tucking it past him as he advanced.
What a spectacle.
Perhaps unused to such an occasion, four of Palace's five takers were unable to convert, with only Murphy scoring.
But Minnesota were hardly prolific in front of goal and only bagged two of their own; typically, Jump was able to haunt his former side by scoring the winner before telling the press: "[These shoot-outs] add to the entertainment, and surely that is what the game ought to be all about."
It certainly has been ever since.
Now 43 years on, Palace’s passionate group of American-based supporters are ready to experience the Premier League in all its glory at this year's Premier League Mornings Live fan festival in Nashville, Tennessee.
Palace XI: Fry, Sparks, Hinshelwood (Smillie), Murphy, Banfield, Gilbert, Bason, Brooks, Carter, Langley, Hilaire (Leahy)
The two-day event, which is designed to bring together US-based football fans to watch the weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures, will start with Palace's home fixture against City on Saturday, April 6th at 06:30 CT (12:30 GMT).
The event recreates the matchday experience for attending supporters, while demonstrating the energy and passion for the Premier League, its clubs and players to the millions of fans watching the broadcast from home.
A whole host of exciting other activities will take place – and Crystal Palace will once again have an unmissable presence at the event – with further details to be confirmed in due course.
The event is free to attend but fans need to be in possession of a ticket, which you can claim for Palace via this link using the code: CRYSTALPALACE_PLML_NSH
There are nine fixtures planned for the weekend. of this year's event. After Palace's game against City, five matches will start at 09:00 CT: Aston Villa v Brentford, Everton v Burnley, Fulham v Newcastle, Luton v AFC Bournemouth and Wolves v West Ham.
Title-chasing Arsenal's trip to Brighton finishes Saturday's proceedings from 11:30 CT. Then, on Sunday, Manchester United face Liverpool at Old Trafford from 09:30 CT, before Sheffield United host Chelsea at 11:30 CT.
Previous fan festivals were held in Washington D.C., New York, Boston, Austin, Miami Beach, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Orlando.
To get a taste of what they are like, check out Palace's best bits from last year below.
Palace have a special relationship with their American fanbase, having last visited the country in 2023 as part of a pre-season tour, when they faced Millonarios in Chicago and Sevilla in Detroit.
US Men’s National Team player Chris Richards recently scored his first goal for the club, after signing in the summer of 2022. Gregg Berhalter, meanwhile, became the first Crystal Palace player to feature at a World Cup finals when he represented the USA in South Korea and Japan in 2002.
Plus, hit American TV show Ted Lasso was filmed at Selhurst Park, the home of the fictional side AFC Richmond.
