Crystal Palace 2-1 Leeds: Goals by Odsonne Edouard and Eberechi Eze cancel out Pascal Struijk’s opener as Patrick Vieira’s side come from behind to end four-match winless run
- Pascal Struijk gave Leeds the lead with a close-range finish after 10 minutes
- Odsonne Edouard headed in Michael Olise’s free-kick to put Crystal Palace level
- Eberechi Eze struck in the 76th minutes to hand Eagles all three points
- The result at Selhurst Park sees Palace climb to 15th while Leeds drop to 14th
At the end of it all, Patrick Vieira was a picture of insouciance. There was the shake of a fist as he strolled past the Crystal Palace fans in the late afternoon sunshine and the faintest hint of a smile. But nothing could disguise that this was a win of real significance.
As Leeds dominated his side for most of the first half, you wondered where this season is going for Palace and whether he is actually going to build. The fans wear hearts on sleeves at this place and the occasional muffled boo was unmissable. There were murmurs of discontent.
But in the final reckoning, Palace had Wilfried Zaha and enough attacking options working off him to deliver the points and lift the side from what would have been the saws of the bottom three. Leeds were the ones left asking themselves questions.
Crystal Palace ended their four-match winless run after coming from behind to beat Leeds
Defender Pascal Struijk gave Leeds the lead with a close-range finish after 10 minutes
Odsonne Edouard headed in Michael Olise’s free-kick to put Crystal Palace level
The first half Palace struggled with belonged to Leeds’ Brendan Aaronson, who is an emblem of what Marsch is trying to bring to Leeds. He is a slight, slope shouldered American who presses out of possession and looks for the forward, vertical movement with the ball at his feet.
The 21-year-old’s quick feet and very clear picture of attacking possibilities saw him create the opening goal that was reward for Leeds early superiority. He threaded past three Palace defenders and executed a left foot shot which struck the base of the left post, rebounding out for Pascal Struijk to strike home. Leeds had Joel Ward’s failure to block out the shot to thank but Aaronson’s effort warranted the goal.
Thereafter, Aaronson remained the creative nexus of a side who capitalised on Palace’s nervous, error-strewn opening and if Leeds had more clinical the game could have been theirs by half time. A ball Aaronson rolled around the corner presented the returning Patrick Bamford an outstanding opportunity but the forward struck too close to the goalkeeper. A pass he measured into the right hand side of the box began a quick interchange of possession which concluded with a heavy Tyler Adams touch running the ball out.
The Leeds pressing left Palace struggling to get out of their own half in the first half hour and the equaliser was against the run of play. Michael Olise’s left foot free-kick from the left defeat the Leeds defence to reach Odsonne Edouard, who headed home.
A VAR check suggested that the forward’s hand might have strayed into an offside position as he prepared to move for the cross. When the goal was allowed, Leeds fans recalled a Bamford effort here being chalked off in similar circumstances, two years ago. That was immaterial. This kind of intervention is VAR at it most lamentable.
Wilfried Zaha (left) and Mateusz Klich (right) battle for the ball at Selhurst Park
Bamford’s return to Leeds is seen as the panacea for Leeds quest to become established as a side who do not have to fear for their Premier League existence, though his first appearance since disappearing with an adductor injury at Southampton did not add up to a great deal. That’s perhaps to be expected of a player limited to just 68 minutes of football last season. He was withdrawn just beyond the hour.
By then, Palace had taken up where Leeds had left off at break, revealing the young attacking talents at the hub of their own team. Marsch sent his team out early and he was kicking his own heels in the technical area awaiting the hosts but Olise, switching positions with Jordan Ayew, took his natural right-sided attacking position, from where he was a persistent threat.
Eberechi Eze struck in the 76th minutes to hand Eagles all three points
Zaha, clearly unhappy about his own left back Jeffrey Schlupp’s contribution in the first half, also began displaying his threaten. Rasmus Kristensen deterred him in an excellent defensive display, topped off by a viral block Olise played Ayew in.
But it was a second half in which Palace gradually gained control, despite the strange decision to introduce Luka Milivojevic for Cheick Douciue, who had been an influence. The winner reflected what a difference a player of Zaha’s class actually brings. His immaculate flick eased Tyrick Mitchell’s pass into the path of Eze who drove across the box past Liam Cooper’s challenge and drove home.
The relief was tangible among the players, while the defeat leaves Marsch wondering where his match-winners are. Their bright early season form has dimmed and they cannot even contemplate a struggle like last season’s.
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