Palace held by Accrington Stanley in first pre-season friendly

Pre-season

2 Jul 2022

Jean-Philippe Mateta's first-half goal was cancelled out by a second-half equaliser from Matt Lowe in Palace's opening pre-season game of the 22/23 campaign.

Story of the match:

Patrick Vieira names two separate XIs for each half.
Rak-Sakyi has the first chance, firing wide from the edge of the area.
Mateta gives Palace the lead, after a smart breakaway initiated by Edouard.
Rak-Sakyi can't make it two, his effort saved after a neat ball from Eze.
HT: Palace 1-0 Accrington Stanley
Palace make 11 changes, with five Under-23s starting the second-half.
The visitors equalise through a smart volley from Lowe.
Palace are almost behind as Accrington Stanley strike the crossbar.
McArthur is denied from distance.
Street heads narrowly over the crossbar.
FT: Palace 1-1 Accrington Stanley

It was honours even in Palace's first pre-season outing of the 2022/23 season, as a youthful side were held by a dogged League One outfit at the Academy Ground.

Palace started with plenty of attacking endeavour, which wasn't surprising given Eberechi Eze, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Odsonne Edouard all started.

Rak-Sakyi had the first opportunity, firing wide from 18-yards-out after his perfectly timed run was picked out by Edouard.

For all their possession it was a breakaway move that saw Palace take the lead. Edouard fed Mateta and the Frenchman showed great poise to beat the last defender and fire home.

Rak-Sakyi could have made it two shortly after when Eze drove through midfield and picked him out, but the 'keeper got down well to save.

At half-time, Vieira made 11 changes and introduced several Academy players, including three young defenders in Dan Quick, David Boateng and Killian Phillips.

Stanley hit back quickly, a well struck volley from Matt Lowe beating Remi Matthews after a dangerous cross wasn't cleared. They nearly had a second straight away as another challenging ball in was met by a red shirt, only for the header to cannon off the crossbar.

Palace had chances of their own, and James McArthur's long-range effort was parried before Rob Street's looping header could only find the roof of the net.

In the end, however, the spoils were shared, and despite the result Vieira and his staff will be pleased to get the side their first minutes of pre-season under their belts.

First-half: Guaita; Ward, Watson, Tomkins, Mitchell; Hughes, Eze, Schlupp; Rak-Sakyi, Mateta, Edouard.

Second-half: Matthews; Clyne, Quick, Phillips, D. Boateng; Riedewald, McArthur, M. Boateng (Raymond, 85); Plange, Benteke, Street.

Relive all the action below.

14:47 - Full-time

Honours even at Copers Cope. The visitors had the better of the chances in the second-half, however a youthful Palace side in the second-half withstood the pressure and gained some valuble minutes in their pursuit of fitness ahead of the start of the season.

14:39 (83') - Chance!

James McArthur has a go from about 25-yards out and stings the palms of Toby Savin in the Stanley goal.

14:35 (77')

Riedewald again floated a ball in from the left hand side which Rob Street got on the end of, though his looping header went just wide of the post.

14:22 (65')

Jairo Riedewald did well to pick out Luke Plange down the left, who cut the ball across the box into the path of Christian Benteke, but his effort was well dealt with by the Stanley goalkeeper.

14:13 (56')

Tommy Leigh gets on the end of a Sean McConville free-kick and smashes the crossbar with a powerful header.

14:06 (49') Goal!

Accrington Stanley level through Matt Lowe.

14:02 (46') - Second-half

Stanley get us back underway in the for the second-half. Palace have made 11 changes to their side.

Our lineup for the second-half: Matthews, Clyne, D. Boateng, Quick, Phillips, Riedewald, McArthur, M. Boateng, Street, Benteke, Plange.

13:45 (45') - HALF-TIME

The visitors have a succesion of chances and corners just before the break, though Vicente Guaita was equal to them and we head into the break a goal to the good.

13:43 (43')

Palace keep the pressure on from a corner, but Stanley hold firm to deny a second goal late on in the half.

13:38 (38')

Rak-Sakyi was fed the ball inside the box, though he couldn't quite get it out from under his feet as he looked to find a second.

13:32 (32')

First real chance for the visitors. Mitchell Clark found some space around 20-yards out, but fired over the bar.

13:22 (22') GOAL!!!

Mateta holds off the Stanley defender and pushes towards goal and calmly slots home on his left foot past the 'keeper. 1-0 Palace, the first goal of the new season.

13:11 (11') CHANCE!

Odsonne Edouard slips in Jesurun Rak-Sakyi on the edge of the box, the young winger's shot is wide of the mark.

13:10 (10')

Jean-Philippe Mateta has the ball in the back of the net, but it's ruled out for offside.

13:04 (4')

Eberechi Eze is brought down on the edge of the box by former Palace Academy centre-back Jay Rich-Baghuelou. He steps up and floats a ball in from the resulting free-kick, but it's headed out.

13:00 - KICK-OFF

The two sides emerge out onto the pitch at the Academy and Palace get the ball rolling in the brand new away kit!

12:00 - TEAM NEWS

Patrick Vieira names two starting XIs to take on Accrington Stanley featuring a mix of first-team and Academy players.

First-half: Guaita, Ward, Tomkins, Watson, Mitchell, Hughes, Eze, Schlupp, Rak-Sakyi, Mateta, Edouard.

Second-half: Matthews, Clyne, D. Boateng, Quick, Phillips, Riedewald, McArthur, M. Boateng, Street, Benteke, Plange.

Subs: Raymond, Siddik, Banks.

The vistors name an experienced side, with former Palace Academy defender Jay Rich-Baghuelou at the heart of their defence.

Accrington Stanley: Savin, Rodgers, Rich-Baghuelou, Hamilton, McConville, Leigh, Connoleey, Clark, Adeoyin, Whalley, Trialist.

Subs: Jensen, Procter, Coyle, Perritt, Longelo, Nolan, Lowe, Sangare.

11:30

In their first outing of the new 2022/23 campaign, the Eagles host League 1 Accrington Stanley at Copers Cope.

This will be the first time the two sides have met since the Lancashire outfit reformed in 1968. Palace did face the original Accrington Stanley side three times between 1937 and 1960, winning on each occasion.

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.

Remember, Gold, Junior Gold and International Members, as well as Season Ticket+ holders, have access to Palace TV+, which broadcasts live first-team and Academy fixtures throughout the season.If you aren’t yet a Member you can join by clicking HERE – or alternatively, explore a Palace TV+ subscription by clicking HERE.

We'll have everything you need here in one place, from the build-up through to the reaction after the final whistle.

First-team
Pre-season

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