Report & Highlights: França rocket sees Palace past HamKam

Summary:

• Glasner names different XIs for each half in Marbella.
• 11: Bjarnason heads over from a HamKam corner.
• 17: Esse produces a sharp turn on the edge of the box, but fires over.
• 20: Lien mis-controls in front of goal after running clear.
• 31: Esse’s rising drive tipped away from goal by Sandberg.
• 40: Nketiah spins cleverly inside the box but fires narrowly wide of the bottom corner.
• 41: Simenstad’s low shot across goal clears Palace’s far post.
• HT: HamKam 0-0 Palace
• 48: França tests Sandberg’s handling with curling effort from distance.
• 55: Gonstad heads goalwards from a corner but Turner denies him from close range.
• 59 – GOAL: França blasts a brilliant first-time volley past Sandberg into the top corner.
• 69: Rodney’s fierce half-volley takes a deflection off Mares, but falls to the ‘keeper.
• 87: Sarr’s outside-of-the-boot effort fades beyond the top corner.
• FT: HamKam 0-1 Palace

For the second season running, Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace side – following the postponement of a March Premier League match with Newcastle United – were taking on Norwegian top-flight opposition at the Marbella Football Center at the culmination of a productive week-long training camp.

Palace’s manager adopted a similar approach to the fixture to last season’s win over Bodø/Glimt, naming separate XIs for either half – with four changes initially from the side which began the 1-0 win over Ipswich Town, including a first non-competitive start in Palace colours for January signing Romain Esse.

Up against a side only a fortnight away from the beginning of the Eliteserien season – Hamarkameratene, or HamKam for brevity, finished 12th in the Norwegian top-flight in 2024 – it was a fitting test for the Eagles, for whom Glasner previously explained the focus was to maintain momentum during three weeks without a competitive fixture.

In truth – without even the preence of the Spanish sun behind them, amidst drizzle – the first-half played out as a non-competitive game often does, with Palace enjoying the vast majority of possession overall, but few real chances of note for either side.

HamKam had the first real opportunity after 11 minutes, with a corner reaching Brynjar Ingi Bjarnason close to goal – but unsighted, the defender headed over the bar when he perhaps could have done better.

Shortly after, Esse showed a glimpse of his undoubted skill with a delightful turn on the edge of the box from Adam Wharton’s pass – only for his rising drive inside the ‘D’ to clear the crossbar.

Only a poor touch in front of goal from Kristian Lien then denied the HamKam forward the chance to go one-on-one with Dean Henderson – the goalkeeper quick off his line to gather – before Esse hit a rising drive from the edge of the box which forced goalkeeper Marcus Sandberg into action with a comfortable enough save.

HamKam were proving well-organised opponents and it was looking like a moment of inspiration would be needed to break the deadlock, with Eddie Nketiah spinning inside the box and firing a fierce effort wide of the bottom-right corner with his laces.

Straight up the other end, Gard Simenstad found space for HamKam to fire a cross-cum-shot across the face of goal and wide; Henderson may well have had it covered.

The half-time break saw an entirely new XI introduced by Palace, in contrast to their Norwegian opposition, who made minimal changes until the latter stages of the second 45.

Among the players coming on were Joel Ward and Matheus França, both on their way back from long-term injuries.

The young attacker certainly appeared determined to seize his valuable match minutes, riding a challenge within moments of entering the pitch before curling a 25-yard effort which was too hot for Sandberg to initially handle.

Julian Gonstad then went close for the Norwegian side – again peeling off at the near post from a set-piece – but his header was well clawed out from close range by Matt Turner.

Then, a moment of Brazilian brilliance from França to break the deadlock.

After a spell of quick passing in midfield saw the ball arrive at the feet of Ismaïla Sarr, a clearance rebounded against the No. 7 and looped up invitingly just inside the box.

França met it, left-footed, with glee, a fierce volley which Sandberg – although he got a glove to it – could not prevent from finding the top corner.

The 20-year-old’s first senior goal for Palace – albeit in non-competitive surroundings – ended up being the winner.

But Kaden Rodney also went close with a deflected effort from distance, whilst Sarr himself caught one late effort clean on the half-volley – but his effort faded beyond the post and into the side-netting.

A valuable exercise for Palace and a win by the same scoreline as the previous season; should this season proceed to carry the same finale as 2023/24, Eagles supporters have much to look forward to in the weeks and months ahead.

Palace first-half XI: Henderson (GK), Clyne, Lacroix, Guéhi, Kporha, Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell, Esse, Nketiah, Eze.

Palace second-half XI: Turner (GK), Ward, Lerma, Richards, Muñoz, Hughes, Rodney, Chilwell, Devenny, Sarr, França.

Subs: Matthews (GK), Mustapha, Marsh.

HamKam: Sandberg (GK), Mares (Larsen, 82), Sjølstad (Granath, HT), Bjarnason, Jónsson (Nilsen, 64), Ekeroth, Johnsgård (Osnes-Ringen, 64), Sørås (Kirkevold, 72), Simenstad (Potur, 72), Gonstad (Mawa, 72), Lien (Roaldsøy, 72).

Subs: Nilsson (GK), Orenals, Rye, Mengshoel, Utkilen.

As It Happened