Report & Highlights: Palace’s Sarr shines brightly as Eagles down Alkmaar

Summary:

• One change for Palace from the side which defeated Brentford, as Hughes comes in.
• 12: Sarr strikes against the post from Richards’ knock-down.
• 16: Mateta is denied from the penalty spot after Sarr is felled by Owusu-Oduro.
• 19: Sarr’s header is saved by the ‘keeper, and Hughes volleys against the bar.
• 22 - GOAL: Lacroix’s rifled half-volley is initially ruled out by the offside flag, but subsequently awarded by VAR.
• 41: Hughes has a long-range effort beaten away and Muñoz’s volley is blocked.
• 45+2: Henderson produces fine double save to deny Mijnans and Sadiq.
• 45+4 – GOAL: Sarr is quick off the mark to prod home a loose ball.
• HT: Palace 2-0 AZ Alkmaar
• 51: Smit goes close for AZ with a fierce strike from distance.
• 54 – Goal: Mijnans reduces the deficit for AZ with a deflected effort.
• 57 – GOAL: Sarr immediately restores the two-goal lead with a placed finish.
• 61: Mateta strikes wide from a tight angle after being picked out by Sarr.
• 70: AZ enjoy a spell of possession but Palace defend their lines well.
• 90: Chávez and Jensen miss clear late chances for Alkmaar in quick succession.
• FT: Palace 3-1 AZ Alkmaar

After a grab-and-smash defeat by AEK Larnaca in Selhurst Park’s UEFA Conference League proper debut, Oliver Glasner and his Crystal Palace players knew the importance of three points in their quest to secure a top-eight finish in the league phase – and with it, not only qualification, but the avoidance of an additional knockout round in the New Year.

With that in mind perhaps, after an excellent performance against Brentford at the weekend, Glasner opted to make just one change to his Palace starting XI, Will Hughes replacing Daichi Kamada in the heart of midfield.

Dutch Cup finalists last season, and off the back of five consecutive wins in all competitions including one away to Ajax, AZ Alkmaar began the evening brightly on the ball, looking to dominate possession as Glasner had foretold in his pre-match press conference.

But after a tight opening 10 minutes or so, the floodgates began to open for Palace – and the first-half was chock full of opportunities.

The first clear chance came inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour, and it was little surprise that Sarr – a man well and truly in-form, after his brace at Anfield a week prior – was the dangerman again, chesting down a looping header from Chris Richards and providing a snap-shot against the base of the post.

Moments later, a familiar pattern,  as Jefferson Lerma’s long-throw was flicked on at the near post and AZ ‘keeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro was forced to juggle the ball to keep it away from Guéhi’s head.

But the young Dutch keeper was less assured moments later as Yéremy Pino put lovely disguise on a reverse pass to feed Sarr down the left, and the ‘keeper raced from his line.

As Sarr feinted to shoot, Owusu-Oduro’s trailing leg caught the Senegal forward and the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Jean-Philippe Mateta – and, in fairness to the AZ keeper, he produced a fine save low down to his right to keep Palace at bay.

But the chances kept on coming. Sarr was next to go close, heading goalwards – admittedly to be denied by another flying save. Daniel Muñoz looped the ball back in and from an incredible angle, Hughes hit a looping volley up and over the ‘keeper – but also against the crossbar.

Finally, after a barrage of chances, the breakthrough came – although it was not without its drama.

After another Lerma long throw was half-cleared, Tyrick Mitchell looped a header from near the halfway line into the box, Guéhi and Mateta combined to deflect it back towards Maxence Lacroix – and the defender absolutely buried it into the bottom-left corner with a fine half-volleyed strike.

Up went the offside flag for a potential offside in the first instance – but following a lengthy VAR review, the goal stood, Selhurst Park celebrated again, and Palace finally had their lead.

That saw the game settle down until the closing stages of the half, but Palace’s lead deserved to be more than just a single goal – and thankfully, it was at half-time.

Hughes and Muñoz both threatened from distance, whilst Sven Mijnans and Ibrahim Sadiq did so at the other end – well kept out by Dean Henderson, hitherto mostly a spectator.

Then, deep into injury time, another set-piece delivery caused more aerial havoc, with Lerma heading back into the box, Lacroix flicking on, and the ball trickling through for – who else – Sarr to stab home from inside the six-yard box.

Another, speedier VAR review followed – this was definitely a two-goal lead.

It was no less than Palace deserved but when the second-half kicked off, Glasner’s side went out in search of a third, looking to put the game to bed – Mateta and Guéhi both going close.

At the other end, though, the visitors knew a single goal would put them back in contention, and seconds after Kees Smit whipped a fierce drive narrowly over from 25 yards, they did find themselves back in it on 54 minutes.

When a cross came in from the right, Palace could only half-clear their lines – and one tame pass later, Mijnans had time and space to pull the ball down and fire home, courtesy off a wicked deflection off a red and blue shirt.

As this Palace team have shown on numerous occasions now at Selhurst, however, the immediate spell after scoring against them is a dangerous one for any opposition.

So the case proved for the Dutch visitors, as within moments of the restart, Mateta brought a loose ball down and slipped in Sarr who – bursting from deep, showing electrifying pace to race past the covering defender – then proceeded to slide a cool finish beyond Owusu-Odúro.

It was admittedly at that stage pretty much game, set, match Palace – Sarr’s eighth goal in 15 appearances this season putting the gloss on an impressive Eagles display.

Mateta could have added another shortly beyond the hour-mark after – found by Sarr running the channel – slipping a finish beyond the far post from a tight angle.

A raft of substitutions from both sides saw the string from the visitors drawn, as Palace’s defensive shape nullified Alkmaar’s lengthy spells of possession.

There were two late opportunities as the game entered five minutes of injury time – and two unconvincing finishes from Mateo Chávez and Isak Jensen, in space inside the box – but Palace were truly worthy winners on the night.

Three straight wins in all competitions and another confident display at Selhurst Park. The next visitors? Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi, Muñoz (Clyne, 85), Hughes (Kamada, 65), Lerma, Mitchell, Sarr (Wharton, 65), Pino (Devenny, 73), Mateta (Uche, 85).

Subs: Benítez (GK), Matthews (GK), Canvot, Sosa, Esse.

AZ Alkmaar: Owusu-Oduro (GK), Dijkstra (de Wit, 62), Goes, Pentra, Chávez, Koopmeiners (Dekker, 80), Mijnans, Smit (Boogaard, 80), Patati (Jensen, 61), Parrott (Zeefuik, 74), Sadiq.

Subs: Verhulst (GK), Zoet (GK), Natali, Van Duijl, Van Duijn.

As It Happened