Crystal Palace’s Under 21s cruised to victory against Aston VIlla to go ten unbeaten in all competitions with Luke Plange netting a hat trick for the young Eagles. Palace began the game with great intent, leading 2-0 in just seven minutes. The young Eagles had all but killed the game by half time adding their third just before the end of the half.
Villa began the second half well, eventually getting themselves on the scoresheet. But, Palace once again showed their dominance with Luke Plange securing his third of the match.
Villa made the closing stages nerve racking for Palace as Omari Kellyman netted a sensational free kick. But, it wasn't meant to be for the Villains as Palace hung onto their 4-2 victory.
Match Action
The Eagles began the game in a rapid fashion as Luke Plange put Palace ahead after just five minutes. Roshaun Mathurin whipped a wonderful ball in from the left wing, which found an unmarked Plange in the Villa penalty area, who leapt beautifully; knocking it into the back of the net. It was horrendous defending by Villa, leaving their keeper Lander Emery without a chance.
Just two minutes later, Brenden Kiernan doubled Palace’s lead. A long ball from Grante out to the right wing eventually found Kiernan, who ruined Tristan Rowe and made his way into the box. His excellent footwork enabled him to be through on goal as he slotted it into the bottom corner from a narrow angle, leaving Emery helpless.
Villa really struggled to get into the game, a testament to Palace’s front-footed football. By the fifteenth minute, they had only had two attempts; both half-hearted long-range efforts comfortably saved by Joe Whitworth.
Palace came again, and in the twentieth minute, Kiernan won the ball in midfield and made a fantastic run; creating space on the left wing to put in a cross. He played it into the box as the ball reached Victor Akinwale, who couldn’t dispatch the half-volley from a couple of yards out.
By the twenty-eighth minute, the game had opened up; end-to-end football at times, with Villa starting to get a bit of a foot in the game. A fantastically worked short corner routine from Villa saw the ball eventually cross towards the back post, but the shot from Katsukunya trickled just wide of the post.
Villa had really grown into the game, with the impetus turning towards the side from the Midlands. They were on top; playing good football and carving out opportunities to the point where it was only a matter of time until they scored.
Chris Francis however had other ideas as his heroic defence in the thirty-second minute denied Villa a certain goal; Kellyman shot from about six yards out, which Francis met with a vital block.
Chances continued to come for Villa, but a strong last-ditch defence from Palace denied them a route back into the game.
It was Villa who finished the first half stronger, enjoying the majority of the ball and looking like the most likely side to score, but for all that dominance and all those chances, they failed to truly test Palace keeper Joe Whitworth.
Against the run of play, Palace ended the half in perfect fashion as Plange added Palace’s third of the half. A launched drop kick from Whithworth into the Villa final third bounced towards Plange, who pounced on Katsukunya. Taking the ball past him and running wide to create space to get the shot away, he unleashed a strike with his left foot that nestled into the bottom corner.
To end the half, Villa had a free kick on the edge of the Palace penalty area; Alcott hit it well, but Whitworth met with a firm hand, tipping it over the bar.
Palace made one substitution at the start of the second half with Vonte Williams making way for Rio Cardines.
Villa almost found their way back into the game just five minutes into the second half. A great corner from Munroe was whipped in towards Wilson; he should have scored, but it bounced off him towards Whitworth who comfortably saved.
A well-worked Villa counterattack in the fifty-fourth minute gave the side from the Midlands a lifeline. Moore played a great through ball into the Palace box, which found Wilson one-on-one with Whitworth in the penalty area, and the striker curled it into the back of the Palace net.
Mathurin looked to be in on goal for the Eagles in the fifty-eighth minute but was hacked down by Monroe, who was booked as there was a covering defender. It looked like a good opening for Palace who had to settle for a free-kick, which ultimately resulted in nothing.
After an hour, Luke Plange scored his third goal of the match, earning himself the matchball at the VBS Stadium. Grante played a fantastic ball behind down the right wing which found Plange, who still had a lot of work to do. He made his way into the Villa box; getting to about eight yards away from goal, he opened his body up and smashed his finish into the top left corner.
Villa lacked end product; they played good football at times but failed to create any meaningful chances to cut into Palace’s lead. The young Villains often found themselves in good areas but ultimately lacked quality in the final third.
With eighteen minutes left on the clock Victor Akinwale made way for Adler Nascimento.
As the game rapidly accelerated to its end, Villa continued to play good football, carving out decent chances but failing to eat into Palace’s lead. The Eagles were standing defensively strong, limiting any hope of Villa working their way back into the match.
Concern for Palace struck in the seventy-ninth minute, as Villa had won a free-kick on the left-hand side of the Palace box. Omari Kellyman stepped up and unleashed a left-footed effort straight into the top corner.
The Villains finished the game with a late flurry, and in the eighty-first minute, Bogarde emerged into the box from midfield, trying to curl the ball into the back of the net, but Whitworth made himself big and pulled off a stunning save to deny him from a couple of yards out.
In the eighty-sixth minute, Mathurin had an opportunity to make it five for Palace. The attacker was free in the Villa box but scuffed it as Emery took it into his grateful grasp.
Three minutes were added on at the end, with Villa having a free-kick on the right flank. The ball was crossed in and claimed comfortably by Whitworth as Palace killed the game off - taking all three points.
Palace were clinical with their chances, and Villa lacked quality in the final third; separating the sides in a tight affair with some great football on display by both teams.
Player of the Match: Luke Plange
A sensational performance from the 21 year-old saw him single handedly win Palace the game. Three excellent goals saw him deservedly earn himself the matchball and this player of the match award.