Report & Highlights: Palace cruise past Crawley in nine-goal thriller

Summary

• Glasner names a strong side, with Andersen and Richards returning

• 2: Edouard puts Palace ahead after 90 seconds

• 3: Rak-Sakyi doubles the lead within a minute

• 11: Kamada nets the third with his first ever Palace goal

• 19: Johnstone makes a strong stop to deny Crawley

• 22: Edouard has it in the back of the net, but it’s ruled out for offside

• 27: Rak-Sakyi displayed some excellent footwork to score a fourth

• 32: Edouard hits the bar in search of the fifth

• 41: Clyne and Mitchell almost combine for a fifth just before half-time

• HT: Crawley 0-4 Palace

• 50: Crawley pull one back with a stunning strike

• 60: Crawley get a second after a Palace mistake

• 65: Ayew gets Palace’s fifth shortly after coming on

• 72: Roles scores a third for Crawley

• 78: Ahamada hits the bar

• 80: Ayew nearly gets a sixth for Palace

• 81: Darcy has a good chance for Crawley, but he drags his effort wide

• 87: Schlupp rounds off the scoring with a sixth for Palace

• FT: Crawley 3-6 Palace

Palace continued their pre-season preparations with a trip to Broadfield to face Crawley Town - their final pre-season game in the UK before heading to the United States on tour.

Manager Oliver Glasner named a strong side ahead of the game, with Joachim Andersen and Chris Richards returning from international duty to feature at the heart of the defence.

The Eagles got off to the best possible start - taking the lead after 90 seconds. A misplaced pass from Crawley went straight to Daichi Kamada, who headed it into the path of Odsonne Edouard in the box.

The striker made no mistake to finish past Joe Wollacott in the Crawley goal for the first, and within a blink of an eye it was 2-0. Edouard turned provider this time after pressing from the front to set up Jesurun Rak-Sakyi for a simple finish.

It was all Palace, capitalising on Crawley mistakes early on. With just over 10 minutes on the clock, Kamada netted Palace’s third. An excellent ball over the top from Chris Richards was taken out of the air by Kamada and with just three touches he took it around the ‘keeper to finish into an empty net.

Crawley were looking to find a way back into the game and nearly did so through Jay Williams. His header at the far post was well met, but Sam Johnstone in the Palace goal was equal to it.

Palace continued their dominance as they were looking for a fourth, to equal the result of the pre-season game against Crawley last season, and it eventually came through a stunning Rak-Sakyi effort.

Edouard again provided the assist for Rak-Sakyi, who raced towards the edge of the six-yard box and slotted it in on his right foot across the face of goal.

Palace rattled the crossbar through Edouard in search of a fifth, while Nathaniel Clyne and Tyrick Mitchell almost combined with a glancing cross across the face of goal.

After the break, the hosts got back into the game through a stunning Rushian Hepburn-Murphy strike from 25-yards out.

This looked as though it was only a consolation for the hosts, but they did claim another goal back on the hour-mark as Joachim Andersen unfortunately slipped to allow an easy effort for Hepburn-Murphy.

Shortly after coming on, Jordan Ayew netted Palace’s first goal of the second-half with a well-taken finish at the second attempt. He was played in behind by Jeffrey Schlupp, and after trying to dink the ‘keeper, he found the back of the net from close range.

Crawley then pulled another one back through former Palace U21s player Jack Roles, but Palace were quickly back down the other end looking for a sixth.

Naouirou Ahamada rattled the crossbar with a looping effort, while Ayew missed a golden chance for a sixth with the goal at his mercy.

Schlupp eventually found the sixth goal just before the final whistle. He was found through on goal by a brilliant Will Hughes ball and his first-time effort on his left foot found the bottom corner.

All in all it was a successful afternoon as the referee brought an end to proceedings shortly after Schlupp’s goal. Glasner and his side now turn their attention to the United States as they head out for pre-season tour.

Crawley: Wollacott (GK), Conroy, Anderson, Darcy, Hepburn-Murphy, Quitirna, Kelly, Mukena, Williams, Flint, Malone.

Subs: Shiek, Trialist, Barker, Roles, Dacosta, Adeyemo, Faal, Mullarkey, Papadopolous, Khaleel.

Palace: Johnstone (GK), Clyne, Richards (Holding, 60), Andersen (Umeh, 60), Riad (Ward, HT), Mitchell, Hughes, Doucouré (Ahamada, HT), Rak-Sakyi (Ayew, 60), Edouard (Schlupp, 60), Kamada (Ebiowei, 85).

Sub not used: Matthews (GK).

AS IT HAPPENED