Crystal Palace edged out Aston Villa 3-2 at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Sunday thanks to a first goal from Tyrick Mitchell.
Follow Us
Crystal Palace edged out Aston Villa 3-2 at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Sunday. A first goal from Tyrick Mitchell was enough to give the Eagles all three points. Roy Hodgson’s team were behind twice thanks to goals by John McGinn and Anwar El Ghazi. However, a spirited second-half rally saw the hosts fight back.
Christian Benteke’s initial equalizer was followed up by two goals after the break. The first came from Wilfried Zaha via a deflection. The second came from another academy graduate in left back Mitchell. He bundled in with six minutes left to earn Palace all three points.
GOAL Crystal Palace 3-2 Aston Villa (84 mins)
The hosts are ahead! Tyrick Mitchell bundles the ball over the line from Eberechi Eze’s shot#CRYAVL
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 16, 2021
Both sides made changes as they have little to play for this season. Jack Butland was handed a surprise start in goal by Palace for his first Premier League appearance in three years.
McGinn scored after a weak clearance from stand-in Palace captain Gary Cahill. The Scotland international curled one into the bottom corner to put his side ahead.
Palace responded well to the goal. Mitchell chipped a cross into the area and Benteke headed it back across goal and into the corner.
It was the Belgian’s ninth of the season and the third game in a row he had found the net. That being said, the scores would not remain level for too long.
Ollie Watkins flicked a header for El Ghazi to drill in from close range two minutes later. Villa, however, were fortunate that a goalkeeping error from Emi Martinez went unpunished.
Villa manager Dean Smith threw Jack Grealish on in a bid to salvage the game. However, Palace looked the likelier side to score as they tested Martinez regularly.
The pressure eventually paid off. Zaha, playing as a second striker, drifted into the box and his deflected shot went into the net.
Eberechi Eze then came close to hitting the winner himself. However, his shot from the edge of the box only thundered against the upright.
There was no denying Palace, however. Eze’s shot was deflected goalwards by Mitchell’s shoulder and Palace could celebrate a job well done.
