Selhurst Park played host to Sunday’s 2pm kick-off for the first time this season, with both sides returning to Premier League action following tough Carabao Cup ties on Tuesday. Palace come into this having defeated Championship side Plymouth Argyle, while Wolves demolished League One Blackpool.
CRY: Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Doucoure, Lerma; Schlupp, Eze, Ayew; Edouard
WOL: Sa; Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri; Lemina, Gomes, Neto, Sarabia; Cunha; Silva
A warm afternoon in South London got underway with Wolves looking the brighter of the two sides, as Pedro Neto whipped in an early cross looking for Matheus Cunha – only for the ball to cleared by Marc Guehi. Fabio Silva then had a chance of his own to open the scoring, but after an excellent first touch, saw his volley fly just over the bar. After a great burst forwards, Joao Gomes also saw an effort go wide of the far post for the away side.
Palace had a golden chance to go forward as Sa’s low clearance landed at the feet of Jefferson Lerma in the Wolves box. The Colombian had the goal at his mercy and took the shot on, but captain Max Kilman got back well to clear the ball off the line superbly. A few moments later, Jordan Ayew was found by Edouard and the Ghanian international pulled the ball back across the face of goal, but Jefferson Lerma – signed from Bournemouth in the summer – couldn’t get to the ball in time.
Two great chances then arrived for the home side as Eberechi Eze’s free kick stung the palms of Jose Sa, only for that to fall to Schlupp who found Edouard with a superb cross, though the Frenchman’s header was to float over the bar.
With ten minutes to go until the half’s end, Nelson Semedo found himself just outside the Palace box. The Portuguese international’s eyes lit up as he fired a low effort towards goal, but it drifted just wide of the far corner instead. Neto then struck towards the top corner moments later, but Sam Johnstone saved well at the near post.
The second 45 minutes started rather quietly considering the amount of chances that had come for either side in the first half. But while it was Gary O’Neil’s side applying the pressure, it was Palace who finally found the breakthrough on 56 minutes. Cheick Doucoure found Tyrick Mitchell down the left hand side. The young left-back delivered a pinpoint cross for Odsonne Edouard, who headed in at the near post past Jose Sa – the Frenchman’s third goal of the season.
Despite the setback, Wolves continued to push for what was now an equaliser, and they found it with twenty five minutes to go. A free kick in from the left hand side by Neto found substitute Hwang Hee-Chan in the Palace box, and the South Korean looped a header over Sam Johnstone to give his side the leveller they had deserved.
Jordan Ayew had a great chance to Palace back in front just moments later after Rayan Ait-Nouri’s clearance was tame, and the Ghanian’s volleyed effort forced Sa into making a great save at the near post. Another chance for Edouard then followed, as the Frenchman’s latest effort flew just over the bar.
From a free kick, Eberechi Eze’s free kick was saved well by Sa in the Wolves goal, but that didn’t stop the England international getting on the scoresheet just moments later. Gary O’Neil’s side failed to clear their lines as a long ball found Eze in the box again. The midfielder then cut inside and bent the ball into the far corner to restore Palace’s narrow lead.
It got even better for the home side as they landed the killer blow to Wolves with just six minutes to go. A superb one-two between Edouard and substitute Jean-Phillipe Mateta saw the former get the ball back and hammer it past Jose Sa for his second goal of the game.
With the match reaching its end, Wolves grabbed a consolation through substitute Matheus Cunha, as he headed home at the near post – but it was too little, too late for the side from the Black Country as Palace picked up the points.
Both sides return to Premier League action on September 16th, with Roy Hodgson’s side travelling to Birmingham to face Aston Villa while Wolves visit Merseyside to take on Liverpool.
