Crystal Palace 3-1 Aston Villa: Wilfried Zaha scores twice as Palace earn first win of season
Zaha #Zaha
Crystal Palace 3-1 Aston Villa: Patrick Vieira ‘delighted’ with Palace victory
Wilfried Zaha scored twice as Crystal Palace earned their first win of the season after coming from a goal down to beat Aston Villa in a lively encounter at Selhurst Park.
Villa got off to the perfect start when Ollie Watkins fired low past Vicente Guaita to give the visitors a fifth-minute lead.
But Palace restored parity on the counter less than three minutes later through the impressive Zaha, who shook off Ezri Konsa and beat Emiliano Martinez with a low shot.
The hosts thought they had turned the game on its head when Jeffrey Schlupp struck after 26 minutes only for VAR to adjudge that Odsonne Edouard had strayed offside before finding the Ghana midfielder.
However, VAR later awarded Palace a penalty after Marc Guehi’s back-post header struck Lucas Digne’s arm, with Zaha scoring on the rebound having seen his spot-kick saved by Martinez.
Substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta wrapped up the win for Palace with a well-taken strike – only a minute after replacing Edouard.
Zaha shines for impressive Palace
On target in the draw at Liverpool on Monday, Zaha took centre stage for Palace once again as he inspired Patrick Vieira’s side to a deserved win with his all-action display ably supported by the lively Eberechi Eze.
But Zaha and his team-mates had to do it the hard way after Watkins struck early for Villa, sweeping a confident shot into the bottom corner after Tyrone Mings’ long ball was flicked on by Leon Bailey.
Palace responded strongly, however, and were back on level terms when Zaha scored on the counter just moment after Villa playmaker Emiliano Buendia had seen a penalty appeal waved away following Cheick Doucoure’s challenge.
Crystal Palace 3-1 Aston Villa: No common sense in VAR decision – Steven Gerrard
The hosts pushed for a second before the break but were frustrated as Schlupp misjudged a free header before being denied by VAR, while Edouard’s appeal for a penalty was turned down following a tussle with Mings.
Zaha then weaved his way around a couple of Villa defenders before pulling a cross back to Jordan Ayew, whose first-time shot was pushed away by Martinez.
While Bailey struck the crossbar for Villa with a curling effort six minutes after the break, Palace profited from a lengthy VAR check after Guehi’s header struck Digne’s arm.
Martinez beat away Zaha’s effort from the spot but the Ivorian was on hand to lash home the rebound and was also involved in Palace’s third, playing Tyrick Mitchell in down the left, enabling the England full-back to cross for Mateta to condemn Villa to a second successive defeat on the road.
Zaha’s double takes the 29-year-old to 12 Premier League goals for 2022, matching Luka Milivojevic’s club record for most goals in a calendar year.
Player of the match
MatetaJean-Philippe Mateta
Crystal Palace
Squad number14Player nameMateta
Squad number11Player nameZaha
Squad number19Player nameHughes
Squad number10Player nameEze
Squad number7Player nameOlise
Squad number26Player nameRichards
Squad number4Player nameMilivojevic
Squad number22Player nameÉdouard
Squad number3Player nameMitchell
Squad number16Player nameAndersen
Squad number6Player nameGuéhi
Squad number15Player nameSchlupp
Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
Squad number2Player nameWard
Squad number28Player nameDoucouré
Squad number13Player nameGuaita
Aston Villa
Squad number11Player nameWatkins
Squad number1Player nameMartínez
Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
Squad number10Player nameBuendía
Squad number31Player nameBailey
Squad number5Player nameMings
Squad number2Player nameCash
Squad number44Player nameKamara
Squad number41Player nameJ Ramsey
Squad number4Player nameKonsa
Squad number27Player nameDigne
Squad number9Player nameIngs
Squad number23Player namePhilippe Coutinho
Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
Line-ups Crystal Palace
Formation 4-3-3
13Guaita
2Ward16Andersen6Guéhi3Mitchell
15Schlupp28Doucouré10Eze
9J Ayew22Édouard11Zaha
Substitutes
Aston Villa
Formation 4-3-3
1Martínez
2Cash4Konsa5Mings27Digne
7McGinn44Kamara41J Ramsey
31Bailey11Watkins10Buendía
Substitutes
Live Text
Match ends, Crystal Palace 3, Aston Villa 1.
90’+5′
Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 3, Aston Villa 1.
90’+4′
Attempt saved. Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Boubacar Kamara.
90’+4′
Foul by Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace).
90’+4′
Danny Ings (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+4′
Attempt saved. Will Hughes (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Tyrick Mitchell.
90’+2′
Attempt missed. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Douglas Luiz with a cross.
90’+1′
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Chris Richards replaces Eberechi Eze.
90’+1′
Foul by Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace).
90’+1′
Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90′
Attempt saved. Will Hughes (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marc Guéhi.
88′
Attempt missed. Matty Cash (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Douglas Luiz following a set piece situation.
87′
Foul by Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace).
87′
Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
85′
Attempt saved. Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
85′
Attempt missed. Danny Ings (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
84′
Foul by Michael Olise (Crystal Palace).
84′
Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82′
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Will Hughes replaces Jeffrey Schlupp.
82′
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Luka Milivojevic replaces Wilfried Zaha.
