What a weekend! Relive Palace’s four victories

Club

3 Apr 2023

Played four, won four. Scored 12, conceded three. Important points in three leagues, and through to a Premier League International Cup semi-final. That weekend wasn’t bad, was it?

With victories for the Under-21s, Under-18s, men’s team and Women’s team all in the space of three days, let’s look back on the story of a memorable Palace weekend…

Friday 31st March

Akinwale fires U21s into semi-finals

On a rainy evening on Merseyside, Palace’s U21s got us underway with a special result, defeating Liverpool 1-0 away in the quarter-finals of the Premier League International Cup.

There was already a buzz around the tournament among the U21s, having qualified for this stage with a last-gasp victory over Sporting Braga in February.

PL International Cup Highlights: Liverpool 0-1 Palace

But in a display of discipline, diligence and – when it mattered – decisiveness in front of goal, Victor Akinwale put Palace ahead with a well-taken effort after 33 minutes.

His team rallied from thereon out to see out a late surge of Liverpool pressure, putting the Academy into the semi-finals of the competition for the very first time.

It has since been confirmed Palace will face Valencia – against whom they will hope their International Cup journey can continue.

Saturday 1st April (AM)

U18s run riot in Southampton

As if not to be outshone by their peers, Crystal Palace U18s put in a performance of the very highest quality, as they put reigning U18 Premier League South champions Southampton to the sword on Saturday morning.

U18 Match Highlights: Southampton 1-7 Palace

A hat-trick from Zach Marsh, along with goals from Hindolo Mustapha, Franco Umeh, David Obou and Asher Agbinone saw the young Eagles record their biggest win of the season.

A second-place finish remains well and truly on; with three more games to play, Palace are behind champions-elect West Ham United and three points clear of Fulham.

Saturday 1st April (PM)

Roy’s return and Mateta’s magic

The kind of moment in football for which even the greatest of writers could not have penned the script.

It will be long remembered: Jean-Philippe Mateta's 94th-minute strike saw Crystal Palace come from behind to beat Leicester in a deafening atmosphere at Selhurst Park, as Roy Hodgson made his return to the dugout.

Match Action: Crystal Palace 2-1 Leicester City

As Hodgson strode back out towards the home dugout at Selhurst Park in the south London sunshine, the noise emanating from the Holmesdale spoke to the determination of both players and fans to turn the Eagles’ form around.

And while there remains work ahead to steer Palace well and truly clear of Premier League trouble, the manner of Saturday's display provided so many reasons to be optimistic.

As the final whistle blew, Hodgson raised his fist into the air. The Eagles had won it.

Check out The Round-Up of highlights, reaction and everything you might have missed here.

Sunday 2nd April

Waldie wins it late on Wearside

To cap it all off, Palace Women continued their fine form of late in the Women’s Championship, as Lizzie Waldie scored the winner ten minutes from time to beat Sunderland 2-1 away.

Women's Match Highlights: Sunderland Women 1 - 2 Crystal Palace

In a match of few chances, it was Sunderland who struck first on 36 minutes as Liz Ejupi tapped in from close range, but Palace hit back soon after when Annabel Blanchard slotted in to round off a fluid move.

It would remain 1-1 until the closing minutes, when Waldie was perfectly positioned at the back post to convert from a bouncing corner kick – and seal the Eagles’ perfect weekend.

Find out how to follow Palace this week here.

Academy
Club
First-team
Video
Women

Related News

More News