Rak-Sakyi winner edges out Millwall in nine-goal thriller
Crystal Palace secured their first victory in pre-season in a nine-goal thriller at the Academy. Goals from Eze, Ayew, O'Brien, Benteke and Rak-Sakyi saw the Eagles edge out their south London rivals.
Summary:
- Eze gets Palace off to a flying start after a wonderful ball from Zaha
- Afobe equalises for Millwall two minutes later
- Clyne’s shot is blocked, but Ayew smashes home from close range
- Millwall draw level once again, Afobe heading home for his brace
- HT: Palace 2-2 Millwall
- Both teams make significant changes at the break
- O’Brien heads home Palace’s third at the far post
- Benteke scores moments after coming on to give Palace a two-goal lead
- The deficit is reduced to one as Cresswell reacts quickest at a corner.
- Flemming’s spectacular volley draws the scores level once more
- Rak-Sakyi is in the right place at the right time to secure the victory for Palace
- FT: Palace 5-4 Millwall
Palace’s second pre-season outing could not have been a bigger contrast to the first, as the Eagles came out on top against Millwall in a nine-goal thriller at the Academy.
Welcoming back internationals into the side, including Jordan Ayew, Wilfried Zaha, Marc Guéhi and Joachim Andersen, the hosts were off to a flying start as Eze slotted home after just two minutes – the goal came from a wonderfully crafted through ball from Zaha.
Almost straight from kick-off, Millwall were level. A dangerous corner was not cleared, and Afobe pounced to volley past Guaita.
Palace’s lead was restored soon after, as Jordan Ayew smashed home from close range; the chance came after Nathaniel Clyne was rewarded for his marauding run forwards, his shot pushed out to Ayew by the Millwall ‘keeper.
The visitors refused to be put away, and Afobe had his brace before half-time. It came from close range once again, a lovely cushioned header beating Guaita as the visitors struck on the break.
Vieira made five changes at half-time and a further six on the hour mark, as the squad gained valuable minutes – Nathan Ferguson in particular, who spent a confident half-hour at the heart of defence.
Palace were back in front through an unlikely source, as Jake O’Brien nodded home at the far post from Luka Milivojevic’s corner. It was four soon after, as Tayo Adaramola raced forwards and found Luke Plange, who picked out Christian Benteke at the far post to prod home.
Once again, Palace’s lead didn’t last. First Charlie Cresswell reacted quickest from a corner, heading past Remi Matthews from the edge of the six-yard box. Then new signing Zian Flemming made a memorable impact on the game, volleying powerfully into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Palace had the last laugh however, and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi got the winner. It came from Odsonne Edouard’s persistence on the left, winning the ball back and picking out the teenager to give Palace their fifth.
A lively outing for Vieira’s side ended in victory, with the trip to Singapore and Australia – and Premier League opposition – just around the corner.
Check out all the action as it happened below!
14:50 - FULL-TIME
A late surge from Millwall is held off by the Palace defence as the clock ticked into stoppage time. The referee's whistle brought an end to proceedings as Palace emerged victorious in a chaotic pre-season friendly.
14:39 (81') GOAL!!!
Palace go straight back down the other end and Rak-Sakyi claims Palace's fifth to restore the lead from close range!
14:38 (80') Goal
Millwall level through Zion Flemming's long range effort.
14:32 (75') Goal
Millwall pull one back through a Charlie Cresswell header from a corner.
14:25 (67') GOAL!!!
Luke Plange is played in to the byline by Tayo Adaramola and he flashes the ball across the box for Christian Benteke to tap in from close range!
14:21 (63') GOAL!!!
Jake O'Brien raises above everyone else to get on the end of a Luka Milivojevic corner and head Palace back in front at the far post!
14:19 (60') Chance!
On the hour mark, Mateta was slipped in behind by Eze, his shot inside the box was charged down by the Millwall 'keeper.
14:12 (54') Chance!
First chance of note for Palace in the half and it comes from the new signing Ebiowei - his curling effort from 25-yards out is dealt with by the 'keeper.
14:00 (45') - SECOND-HALF
Palace get the half back underway in Beckenham after making a number of changes. Joachim Andersen, Marc Guéhi, Will Hughes, Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha were replaced by Nathan Ferguson, Jake O'Brien, Luka Milivojevic, Odsonne Edouard and Malcolm Ebiowei.
Millwall side for the second-half: Long, McNamara, Wallace, Hutchinson, B. Mitchell, Bradshaw, Flemming, Cresswell, Saville, Olaofe, Topalloj.
13:45 - HALF-TIME
The two sides go in level at the break after a frantic first-half, Eze's early goal and Ayew's calm finish were cancelled out by responses from Benik Afobe brace.
13:44 (44')
Zaha fires a shot from about 20-yards out just over the bar.
13:38 (38') CHANCE!
Jeff Schlupp is denied on the edge of the box by a last minute challenge!
13:34 (34') Goal
Millwall level once more through Benik Afobe. He finishes from close range inside the box.
13:32 (32') CHANCE!
Eze glides effortlessly into Millwall's final third and side foots an attempt at goal from the edge of the box - it goes narrowly wide of the mark.
13:29 (29')
Tyrick Mitchell curls in ball from the byline towards the far post and almost forces an own goal, though the Millwall defence scramble it away just in time.
13:26 (26')
Palace are looking for more, Ayew floated a dangerous ball in towards Mateta, but it was cleared. The visitors can't seem to get out of their own half or retain the ball.
13:18 (18') GOAL!!!
Nathaniel Clyne finds himself in acres of space inside the box and fires a shot at the near post which the 'keeper saves - the rebound falls to Ayew and he slots it in with ease to put Palace back in front!
13:15 (15')
Even between the two sides following the early goals, Jean-Philippe Mateta had a tame effort blocked, whilst Millwall floated in a dangerous cross that was well dealt with by the Palace defence.
13:05 (5') Goal
Millwall level instantly with a goal from Benik Afobe, capitalising on a corner.
13:03 (3') GOAL!!!
Fantastic footwork from Wilfried Zaha in Palace's first meaningful attack saw him dance into the box and slip in Eberechi Eze - he found himself in a lot of space and slotted home calmly to put Palace ahead!
13:00 - KICK-OFF
Millwall get the ball rolling at Copers Cope!
12:35
The players are out and warming up for the game. Palace look raring to go as the drills intensify.
12:00 - TEAM NEWS
Patrick Vieira has named a strong side to take on The Lions. Marc Guéhi captains the side alongside his centre-back partner Joachim Andersen. Further forward, the returning Wilfried Zaha and Jordan Ayew flank centre-forward Jean-Philippe Mateta. Vicente Guaita continues between the sticks, whilst
On the bench, there are 12 substitutes, including recent signings Malcolm Ebiowei and Luke Plange.
Palace: Guaita, Clyne, Guéhi, Andersen, Mitchell, Eze, Schlupp, Hughes, Zaha, Mateta, Ayew.
Subs: Matthews, O'Brien, Ferguson, Phillips, Adaramola, Rodney, Plange, Ebiowei, Milivojevic, Rak-Sakyi, Benteke, Edouard.
The visitors have named two starting XIs which will play 45 minutes each, as is typical for a pre-season friendly.
Millwall XI first-half: Bialkowski, Cooper, Evans, Afobe, Malone, Burey, Leonard, Bennett, A. Mitchell, Muller, Honeyman.
Subs: Sandford, Toppaloj, Allen, Boateng, Walker.
Millwall XI second-half: Long, McNamara, Wallace, Hutchinson, B. Mitchell, Bradshaw, Flemming, Cresswell, Saville, Olaofe, Topalloj.
Subs: Sandford, A. Mitchell, Allen, Boateng, Walker.
11:30
The Eagles welcome south London rivals Millwall to Copers Cope in their second pre-season game of the season.
This is the second time the two sides have met this year, after on Olise-inspired Palace comfrotably came back against the Lions at The Den in January. Prior to the clash in January, the last time the two sides met was in the 2012/13 Championship season.
You can watch the match LIVE on Palace TV+ or follow along here on the live blog for match updates as the game goes on.
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We'll have everything you need here in one place, from the build-up through to the reaction after the final whistle.