All square at Selhurst Park against the Gunners, full match report .....

Back to reserve league football at Selhurst on Monday evening (13/12) after the diversion of the Surrey Cup last week. This time Palace played hosts to Arsenal's young Gunners, end result being a relatively entertaining 1-1 draw.

After the debut of some of Palace's own academy last week, it was back to normal line-up wise, although Anthony Danze dropped to the bench to make way for some returning players. With Gary Borrowdale absent, Mikele Leigertwood
filled in at left back. Tommy Black took up left midfield once again and Gonzalo Sorondo returned from injury, and appeared to come through the match unscathed.

Arsenal had home grown or European imported youngsters on display (5 in the latter case), some of which have already featured in a limited capacity for their first eleven (largely in the league cup).

So the game began, and after a sharp piece of movement from the away side Palace found themselves a goal down after 6 minutes.

Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (known at Highbury just by the name of a certain TV show to all) ran through the middle unchallenged, and slipped a low ball across the floor to the left side of the penalty area, where Stephen O'Donnell ran in to beat Butterfield to it, and hammer the ball in the top of the net past Julian Speroni.

Palace's response one minute later after a foul on Wayne Andrews just outside the penalty area, was a Danny Butterfield free kick over the bar after Tommy Black teed him up.

Tommy then departed the field with an injury after a challenge along the touchline on 15 minutes and was replaced by Ivan Kaviedes. Arsenal then had a free kick of their own 7 minutes later, which Sebastian Larsson drove high and wide of the right hand post.

Another minute later and Palace were close to an equaliser. Wayne Andrews drove a cross into the box from the left touchline, which was met by Vasillis Lakis' accurate shot from the far post. The attempt had the 'keeper beaten and off his line, but defender Phillippe Senderos succesfully pulled off an overhead kick clearance from the goal line, to just stopped the ball from going in. Palace followed up with a Torghelle shot that was wide of the left goalpost.

The equaliser wasn't long in coming though, as Palace mounted attacks, and it arrived in the 28th minute.

An identical cross from the left wing (Torghelle this time) to Lakis at the far post, saw his shot blocked and go out for a corner. Quickly taken, the ball arrived at Butterfield's feet about 10 yards back and he hit a cross towards the far post that was met by the head of Sorondo. Playing the ball back across goal, it was Tom Soares that leant forward and placed a header into the top of the net past 'keeper and defender to level the scores.

Palace then followed this up with some more pressure, and had three further chances in the next seven to eight minutes. Kaviedes first had a shot blocked inside the area after taking on the defence. Then Palace won a corner on the left, and Soares followed it with a shot that was palmed away by 'keeper Michael Jordan, before Sorondo reacted with a shot well over.

Then it was Kaviedes again, going much closer this time. A shot reigned in on goal from an acute angle on the right, in line almost with the goal. It beat the near post 'keeper, but not the man further down on the line.

The half then panned out with three more attempts. Kaviedes put a Palace free kick wide from a centrally taken position on the edge of the area, before Arsenal's goalscorer O'Donnell then put their own free kick equally away from goal. The last attempt of the half fell to Palace's Wayne Andrews who also shot wide, from inside the penalty area.

The second half began brightly for Palace, who started with plenty of possession driving forward against their opponents. However it was Arsenal who could have scored, as Butterfield sold Sorondo short with a pass across the Palace goal from the right. Fortunately Speroni was alert to be off his line and push away the resulting Arsenal shot as they retrieved the ball.

It wasn't until 66 minutes that we had our next chance, although Palace as noted were enjoying the lions share of possession. Leigertwood tried with a cross from the left, and Kaviedes reacted quickly at the far post to snap off an on target shot that 'keeper Jordan palmed away from danger.

Arsenal's Skulason had their next attempt several minutes afterwards with a shot driven wide of goal.

With 10 minutes remaining, substitute Anthony Danze linked up with Torghelle. After shooting from the right side though, his shot hit a defender and looped up nicely for a catch by the goalkeeper.

There was then One final chance each before full time. First a good chance fell to Arsenal and again it was O'Donnell. Just outside the area he hit a well struck drive that forced Speroni to dive to his right and tip the ball onto the post.

Finally in the dying minutes, Andrews cut in from his second half left wing position, but could only blast well over goal.

In summary, it was a talented young Arsenal side, although somehow they didn't seem to completely spark and only rose to the game a few times during each half. Without doubt their most talented player is the American pathologist - Quincy, who was well supported by O'Donnell and Larsson most particuarly, in a kind of 4-1-3-2 formation. Some of their others who've seen first team football somehow did not impress this evening and particularly disappointing was right back Justin Hoyte who has seen praise by Arsene Wenger once or twice this season.

As for Palace - Kaviedes was bright, but not quite as on the pulse yet as you'd hope him to be. Sorondo on his return looked a rock again, and Hudson alongside him
had his best match for a while. Lakis was lively, and Togwell was solid when he made an appearance in the second half.

However, all in all, with plenty of second half possession in the Gunners half, Palace should have done better in the final third of the pitch and had of course already beaten a better Arsenal reserve side in a friendly some months previously.

Another home match now awaits - next week Fulham are the visitors to Selhurst Park.

Palace Team: (4-4-2) Speroni, Butterfield (c), Leigertwood, Derry, Hudson, Sorondo, Lakis, Soares, Andrews, Torghelle, Black

Subs: Togwell (For Sorondo '57), Banks, Kaviedes (For Black '15), Danze (For Lakis '57), Berry

Palace Scorer: Soares ('28)


Match Stats:
Palace Shots/Headers: 11 (4 on target)
Arsenal Shots/Headers: 5 (3 on target)

Palace Corners: 4
Arsenal Corners: 1

Palace Free Kicks: 10
Arsenal Free Kicks: 15

Arsenal Crosses: 5
Palace Crosses: 10 (6 from left / 4 from right)
(Andrews 4, Butterfield 3, Hudson 1, Leigertwood 1, Torghelle 1)


Posted by alan