Crystal Palace 2, Southampton 1: Final Score in Premier League Match
Eberechi Eze fired Crystal Palace to victory with a sensational winner, as the Eagles soared back from behind to topple Southampton and distance themselves from relegation trouble, now six points clear of the drop zone.
Southampton struck first in the 14th minute, when Kyle Walker-Peters deftly evaded Daniel Munoz, delivering a pinpoint cross that Adam Armstrong expertly nodded down for Tyler Dibling to slot home from close range.
But Palace, with their usual tenacity, responded just 16 minutes later, as Trevoh Chalobah met a Will Hughes corner with a soaring header that leveled the score. The Southampton players cried foul, alleging Jean-Philippe Mateta had impeded goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, yet VAR confirmed the goal stood.
Eze, who had been yearning for a moment of brilliance, delivered exactly that early in the second half. His superb strike clinched all three points for the Eagles.
Before Eze’s magical moment, Munoz squandered a gilt-edged opportunity when he failed to convert a golden chance presented by Tyrick Mitchell’s cross, striking the back of Walker-Peters instead of finding the net from six yards.
Ismaila Sarr too was left frustrated in the first half, as his breakaway was thwarted by a fine Ramsdale save, while Jefferson Lerma’s follow-up acrobatic volley was similarly denied from the ensuing corner.
However, the Eagles grew in confidence after drawing level and it didn’t take long post-break for them to convert their dominance into a go-ahead goal — a deflected Munoz cross fell invitingly into Eze’s path, and he made no mistake, drilling it into the bottom corner.
This crucial win propels Palace to 15th place — now ensconced six points above Leicester City in 18th— and marks an impressive run of form, having lost just once in their last eight Premier League fixtures.
Palace continue to build momentum
Crystal Palace are steadily regaining their form as they seek to ascend the league table following a challenging start to the season.
Manager Oliver Glasner has articulated the reasons for Palace’s slow start, attributing it to late summer signings and key players participating in international tournaments that hampered pre-season preparations.
Yet, the Eagles have found a stable lineup and developed key players into match fitness, boasting only one defeat in seven Premier League outings (W2, D4) before this match.
The team continues to adapt in the absence of Michael Olise, who departed for Bayern Munich, leaving the responsibility to fill his void largely on Eze’s shoulders.
The England international, fresh off a Euro 2024 campaign that saw the Three Lions reach the final, has yet to showcase his best form in recent weeks. Still, Palace enthusiasts hope this stunning strike against Southampton will ignite a surge of consistency from their star.
Eze’s match-winner marked his first league goal since September 1, when he netted in a stalemate against Chelsea.
As Palace prepares to face off against Chelsea next, the desire for a sustained run of performance grows, as they chase a coveted top-half finish this term.
Juric still hunting for first points as Southampton manager
Southampton left the pitch heartbroken after narrowly losing to West Ham last week, and their disappointment was palpable as they failed to secure even a point against Palace after taking an early lead.
Ivan Juric has been vocal about the style he wishes to implement, urging his players to “work hard, press hard, play good, be intense.” Yet, translating that vision into results has been elusive thus far.
Organized in a 3-4-2-1 setup, Southampton displayed tactical discipline and a clear game plan. Juric’s faith in his 6ft 7in striker Paul Onuachu as a focal point in attack continues, as the team consistently sought to exploit his aerial prowess.
The opener came via a cross into the box that exemplified their intent, yet with just one victory this season, the urgency to start amassing points is dire if they are to escape the looming threat of relegation.
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Number:
30
A. Ramsdale
30
A. Ramsdale
Average Rating:
6.05
Number:
33
T. Dibling
33
T. Dibling
Average Rating:
5.46
Number:
2
K. Walker-Peters
2
K. Walker-Peters
Average Rating:
5.30
Number:
15
N. Wood-Gordon
15
N. Wood-Gordon
Average Rating:
5.02
Number:
18
Mateus Fernandes
18
Mateus Fernandes
Average Rating:
4.97
Number:
7
J. Aribo
7
J. Aribo
Average Rating:
4.84
Number:
32
P. Onuachu
32
P. Onuachu
Average Rating:
4.81
Number:
6
T. Harwood-Bellis
6
T. Harwood-Bellis
Average Rating:
4.78
Number:
14
J. Bree
14
J. Bree
Average Rating:
4.65
Number:
35
J. Bednarek
35
J. Bednarek
Average Rating:
4.53
Number:
10
A. Lallana
10
A. Lallana
Average Rating:
4.33
Number:
19
C. Archer
19
C. Archer
Average Rating:
4.31
Number:
26
L. Ugochukwu
26
L. Ugochukwu
Average Rating:
4.11
Number:
9
A. Armstrong
9
A. Armstrong
Average Rating:
4.06
Number:
3
R. Manning
3
R. Manning
Average Rating:
3.89
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