Crystal Palace shared the spoils against rivals Brighton as star man Wilfried Zaha’s thunderous effort snatched a point at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Monday night.
For large spells of the game, even Palace boss Roy Hodgson would have admitted the hosts were second best, but then Zaha intervened, twisting Montoya before smashing the ball beyond Mat Ryan in the Brighton goal.
Up until Zaha’s sumptuous strike, Brighton had dominated from the start of the game, but only gained the initiative in the second half.
For all their possession, they were unable to create anything meaningful, that was until Pascal Gross picked out Neal Maupay who fired into the roof of the net to put Graham Potter’s side 1-0 up.
Before Zaha stepped up, Palace’s only chance of note had been a fortunate incident which almost led to Christian Benteke putting them into the lead. The Belgian striker almost caught out Mat Ryan in the Brighton goal, as his speculative cross-cum-shot crashed the bar with the keeper grasping for thin air.
However, despite the Seagulls’ impressive away performance, they were left hanging on after the Eagles found a renewed impetus after the equaliser.
However, Potter’s men held out and left Selhurst Park with a well-earned point, in what was Hodgson’s 100th game in charge of Palace.
Here’s 90min’s breakdown of this one…
Crystal Palace
Key Talking Point
All the talk in recent weeks has circulated around Palace star Wilfried Zaha, his importance to the club, his influence and also his slightly disappointing form this season.
For 75 minutes on Monday night, Zaha failed to live up to the hype in what has been a low-key season for the Ivory Coast international – a season which may be his last as an Eagles player.
However, then one moment of brilliance changed the game.
The Eagles had sputtered and stalled for the majority of the game but then stepped forward Zaha, who twisted and turned Montoya before firing a ferocious drive past Ryan in the Brighton goal.
Devoid of any quality for large parts of the game, without a shot on target until the 70th minute and then Zaha’s stardust turned the game on its head.
Player Ratings
Starting XI: Guaita (5), Kelly (6), Tomkins (6), Dann (6), Riedewald (5), Kouyaté (5), Milivojevic (6), McArthur( 5), J Ayew (6), Benteke (5) Zaha (7)
Substitutes: McCarthy (6), Meyer (6)
STAR PLAYER: Wilfried Zaha
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Big players, produce big moments. The 26-year-old had endured a frustrating night until he unleashed a fearsome strike which dragged the below-par Eagles level.
An incredibly quiet game by his standards up until his blockbuster strike which earned the home side a point and shows Palace’s heavy reliance on their star winger.
They will be big boots to fill if the Ivorian is to make the move across London to Stamford Bridge, without Zaha’s spark and creativity, you really do fear for Hodgson’s men.
Brighton
Key Talking Point:
What else but VAR? Another game, another video assistant referee controversy. Perhaps it was the lack of reaction by Montoya as he was clipped in the box, the fact that the Spaniard chose not to protest, whatever it was, it looked a penalty.
The full-back latched onto Propper’s pass and as he went to pull the trigger, it appeared that Riedewald caught his foot but after a short delay, the appeal was waved away.
By no means was it a stonewall award, but given some of the penalties awarded this season, it was very surprising to see the referee not point to the spot.
Player Ratings:
Starting XI: Ryan (6), Montoya (6), Webster (7), Dunk (7), Burn (7), Propper (7), Bissouma (7), Gross (6), Mooy (7), Maupay (7), Trossard (7)
Substitutes: Alzate (6), Bernardo (N/A)
STAR PLAYER: Neal Maupay
Three games, three goals, given the severe lack of goal threat at the other end of the park, Maupay’s brilliant finish early in the second half highlighted the need for a natural-born predator.
It was a lovely cultured finish into the roof of the net that put the Seagull’s into a 1-0 lead, it was practically his first chance of the game but he showed the composure of a striker in top form.
It wasn’t just his poaching instincts that caught the eye, his work rate was something to behold, especially compared to his counterpart, Benteke, in the Palace ranks.
The Belgian could learn a thing or two from Maupay’s work off the ball.
Looking Ahead
Roy Hodgson takes his side to St James’ Park to face Newcastle on Saturday in a game which promises to be a close encounter as only one point splits the sides in the table.
As for Brighton, they have the task of stopping surprise package Sheffield United when they entertain Chris Wilder’s men on Saturday.
