Crystal Palace booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals as they romped home to a 4-0 victory over Everton on Sunday afternoon.
Everton came back crashing down to earth following their morale-boosting midweek win over Newcastle as Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace produced a slick attacking display to crush the Toffees 4-0 and set up an FA Cup semi-final date against Chelsea at Wembley.
The hosts got off to a nervy start, with Everton forward Richarlison getting on the end of several chances in the opening exchanges, but he was not clinical enough to capitalise. Palace settled down as the game wore on and eventually took the lead in the 25th minute when skipper Marc Guehi rose high at the front post to head home Michael Olise’s dangerous corner after some poor Everton marking.
Soon after, Jean-Philippe Mateta doubled their advantage, with Wilfried Zaha and Eberechi Eze combining to set up the Frenchman. After the fireworks in the opening period, the second half was a relatively quieter contest.
The third goal came in an extraordinary way. Olise’s wayward attempt somehow looped onto the post and fell kindly to Zaha for a tap-in before substitute Will Hughes netted from a rebound after Jordan Pickford spectacularly saved Conor Gallagher’s snapshot volley.
Crystal Palace have made it through to the #EmiratesFACup semi-finals for just the second time in the last 25 years:
◎ 2016
◉ 2022Patrick Vieira has done it in his first season in charge. ? pic.twitter.com/D6xsoYQakP
— Squawka (@Squawka) March 20, 2022
The Hard Tackle will now run the rule over both sets of players in what was a fairly comfortable evening for the home side.
Crystal Palace
Jack Butland: 7/10
Butland did not have a lot to do in the first half despite Everton dominating the opening ten minutes of the game and having some good chances. He made some vital stops in the second half, particularly when getting low to deny a dangerous effort. Ultimately, he only faced two shots on target and Everton’s weak finishing gave him an easy ride throughout the game.
Tyrick Mitchell: 7/10
The Crystal Palace academy youngster was defensively astute, putting in five tackles and three interceptions. He made a great tackle to thwart a dangerous-looking Everton attack. Aside from a few small hiccups with his passing, he was a reliable presence down the left and linked well with Eze, initiating a number of attacks.
Marc Guehi: 8.5/10
Guehi had a shaky start with his positioning a bit all over the place but soon made up for it with a superb header past Jordan Pickford to put Palace on the right track. He looked more composed and flourished with his distribution as the game progressed. Made a game-high seven clearances.
Joachim Andersen: 7/10
It was another excellent showing from the Dane, who has now put together a series of fine displays. He made some vital interventions to keep things solid at the back and was imposing throughout. Andersen was also class in distribution and completed a massive nine accurate long-balls, the most by any outfield player on the pitch.
Nathaniel Clyne: 6.5/10
Clyne put forward an unspectacular display but did not do much wrong either. He was watchful at the back post when Everton lumbered in with multiple crosses, while he also drifted inside to form a midfield block.
Cheikhou Kouyate: 7/10
Cheikhou Kouyate put in a solid shift in the engine room. He was a real workhorse full of running, tackles, pressing, and breaking up several Everton attacks. The AFCON winner would have liked more control in midfield, but it was nevertheless a decent performance by the Senegalese destroyer.
Eberechi Eze: 7/10
Eze was crucial in the build-up to Palace’s second goal, taking on his marker and dragging defenders to him before showing great vision to find Zaha, who eventually found Mateta. Overall, it was another bright showing from the Englishman, while his ball-control and trickery was a delight to watch.
Conor Gallagher: 7/10
Another impressive performance from the Chelsea loanee, who helped control play and created a number of opportunities while also winning key midfield battles. Usually known for his energy and late runs into the box, Gallagher showed that he is also very competent at doing the gritty work, completing four tackles and two clearances.
Wilfried Zaha: 9/10
Wilfried Zaha has scored 10+ goals in back-to-back seasons for the first time in his career:
◉ 2020/21: 31 games, 11 goals
◉ 2021/22: 27 games, 10 goalsDoubly, doubly good. #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/E1dYJeBrFk
— Squawka (@Squawka) March 20, 2022
Zaha was impressive as always with his unpredictable tricks, flick-ons and rapid turn of pace. He had a big chance to double Palace’s advantage following Mateta’s low cross but fired narrowly wide. But he made amends for it by setting up Mateta soon after. He eventually got himself on the scoresheet with a well-taken goal. Scored a goal and gave one assist; he has been in strong form since returning from AFCON.
Jean-Philippe Mateta: 9/10
After a slow start to his Palace career, Mateta has entirely turned his fortunes around and is swiftly becoming a fan favourite at Selhurst Park. He was easily the best player on the pitch and looked tailor-made for English football. He was a headache for the Everton backline with his physicality, pace, sheer power, and mobility all at the same time.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has scored 3 goals in his last 5 starts for Crystal Palace:
⚽️ vs Watford
❌ vs Stoke
⚽️ vs Wolves
❌ vs Man City
⚽️ vs EvertonThe Eagles close on Wembley! ? pic.twitter.com/oERwlpTspC
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 20, 2022
He led the line admirably, held the ball up efficiently, and effortlessly worked the channels. The French striker also took his goal superbly to cap off a complete centre-forward display.
Michael Olise: 7/10
Olise created the opener with a pinpoint corner, while his general play was direct and threatening throughout. He was also a nightmare to defend against and won a match-high five fouls.
Michael Olise in the #EmiratesFACup this season:
◎ 4 games
◉ 2 goals
◉ 3 assistsHe loves this competition. ? pic.twitter.com/tioyfqFqqe
— Squawka (@Squawka) March 20, 2022
SUBSTITUTES
Odsonne Edouard: 6/10
Edouard was full of energy and made intelligent runs into the box. He created three key passes despite only being on the pitch for the final 20 minutes.
Luka Milivojevic: 6/10
Milivojevic came on to shore things up in the middle of the park and help see out the game, which he did well.
Christian Benteke: N/A
Did not play enough to warrant a rating.
Will Hughes: 7/10
Hughes was in the right place at the right time to tap-in from close range following Conor Gallagher’s volleyed effort inside the box.
Everton
Jordan Pickford: 5/10
Pickford was not clearly at fault for any of the goals conceded, but his poor kicking and no command of his box did not help Everton’s case either while conceding four goals does not bode well on his England credentials.
Ben Godfrey: 3/10
Operating on the right-hand side of a shambolic centre-back trio on the day, Godfrey was tasked with trying to contain Wilfried Zaha, but the Palace dangerman always came out on top and destroyed the space between the Englishman and Coleman. The Ivorian striker ran the defender ragged multiple times during the game, including when he teed up Mateta for a simple second goal.
Michael Keane: 2/10
Michael Keane defending today pic.twitter.com/2jGLJZ7Sl6
— Everton 1878 (@Everton08857353) March 20, 2022
Keane missed a golden opportunity in the opening exchanges, which set the tone for the rest of his game. He never looked settled and was at fault for as many as three goals. He first failed miserably to stop Palace’s opening goal, leaving Guehi unmarked on his own and then went missing for their second, while the fourth goal was a complete let-off.
Mason Holgate: 3/10
Holgate is one of many players on the pitch simply not good enough. He looked comfortable in possession when playing on the left side of a back three, but he just could not deal with Palace’s buzzing forwards while he was nowhere near to preventing any of Palace’s goals. Olise showed him a clean pair of heels in the vast majority of their battles.
Seamus Coleman: 5/10
Coleman’s tussle with Zaha on his wing yielded mixed results. The Irishman showed glimpses of brilliant play to fashion some decent attacking moments and made a last-ditch covering tackle to prevent Mateta just before half-time. Unsurprisingly, he gave it his best but lacked legs and was sometimes a liability, with Palace’s second goal coming from his side.
Abdoulaye Doucoure: 4/10
Everton desperately needed the mobile box-to-box Doucoure of the early season, but this version of the French midfielder was even worse than Andre Gomes. He let Zaha run past him in the build-up to Crystal Palace’s second, while he did not do anything of note otherwise either with or without the ball.
Andre Gomes: 5/10
With Allan suspended and Donny van de Beek cup-tied, Gomes was handed a rare chance to impress, which he wasted by putting on an underwhelming showing in the centre of the park. He hardly made any attempt to stop Mateta from breezing past him to score the all-important second goal right before half-time. The Spaniard did make a match-high six successful tackles.
Jonjoe Kenny: 4/10
Kenny was immediately restored to the starting lineup after his suspension. Playing as a left wing-back, the youngster struggled to contain an enigmatic Olise and did not offer much offensively either.
Anthony Gordon: 5/10
Gordon started the game very brightly, picking the ball between the lines and driving at the Palace defenders seamlessly, but he faded out as Lampard changed his tactics after the interval. The effort and quality were there, but consistency not so much as he gave the ball away on a number of occasions and the end-product was non-existent.
Richarlison: 4/10
The Brazilian was in the midst of things, snatching at opportunities, falling to the ground, or getting caught offside, but nothing came off for him. While he did not get a whole lot of service, he had several clear-cut chances in the game that he failed to convert.
Richarlison and Gordon need to stop going down EVERYTIME they are touched its embarrassing, Richarlison is an absolute shocker of a cheat, he has the talent but is too busy diving or sulking like a baby, can't see him ready to roll up his sleeves for relegation fight,
— leechampion (@leechampion69) March 20, 2022
Andros Townsend: N/A
It is a pity Townsend went off due to an injury inside the opening 15 minutes. The former Crystal Palace man looked bright on his return to Selhurst Park until that point.
SUBSTITUTES
Demarai Gray: 4/10
Gray was completely anonymous after being substituted in early on for the injured Townsend. He created an opening with a long-range effort and could have done better when he had the chance soon after Palace’s third goal.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin: 5/10
Calvert-Lewin was introduced into the game at half-time. He linked up the attack neatly at times but ultimately failed to make any meaningful impact and could not even muster a single shot.
Alex Iwobi: N/A
Did not play enough to warrant a rating.
