Crystal Palace ended their winless run and secured three points against Leeds United at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace proved their mettle with a strong victory over Leeds United to go level on points with their opponents. There was plenty of action on the pitch, but Leeds dominated the proceedings in the early exchanges.
Some tense pressure from the visitors resulted in the opening goal. Brenden Aaronson was the architect of the strike, as the winger dazzled his way through the Crystal Palace defence before getting his shot away. The ball hit the post and fell invitingly towards Pascal Struijk, who made no mistake from close range.
Leeds continued with their pressure and seemed like the team likely to score again. However, Palace got an equaliser out of nothing as Michael Olise delivered a perfect free-kick for Odsonne Edouard to net the leveller. After that strike, Palace got a foothold in the game as Leeds’s influence began waning.
After the break, Palace completely dominated the proceedings and looked like the side that could score next. And the goal duly arrived, courtesy of a brilliant finish from Eberechi Eze. The Crystal Palace midfielder slotted the ball into the net following some good work from Tyrick Mitchell.
After that, Leeds never looked like the team that could score a goal, as Patrick Vieira’s men saw through the win. With that, Palace ended their winless run and secured three points at home. The Hard Tackle now runs the rule over both sets of players.
Crystal Palace
Vicente Guaita: 4/10
Guaita made one mistake in the first half, which Leeds did not punish. His handling in that half was poor and put him under tremendous pressure in the opening periods. In the next part, he was not threatened too much as Palace controlled proceedings at the other end.
Joel Ward: 5/10
Ward was under tremendous pressure in the first period, with the opener coming from his end. He did improve his game in the second period.
Joachim Andersen: 6/10
Joachim Andersen compared to other defenders in the Premier League this season:
◉ Most clearances (65)
◉ Most accurate long balls (49)Vital to Patrick Vieira's side. 💪 pic.twitter.com/AZM5Mz7ibs
— Squawka (@Squawka) October 9, 2022
Despite a timely return to the side, Andersen was under pressure due to a rampant Leeds attack in the first period. He did improve and got more on the ball in the next phase, particularly after the equalising goal.
Marc Guehi: 6/10
Guehi found it hard to go against a relentless Leeds attack until the visitors scored the first goal. He was a bit composed after Palace netted the equaliser. With his team more in control in the second half, Guehi could influence play from the back.
Jeffrey Schlupp: 5/10
Schlupp found that Leeds attacked his side more often and could barely influence the game.
Michael Olise: 8/10
Michael Olise’s game by numbers vs. Leeds:
6 ground duels won
3 key passes (most)
3 crosses completed (most)
3 tackles won
1 assistBig contribution. 👏 pic.twitter.com/zcCpsmvqZI
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) October 9, 2022
Olise was instrumental in getting Palace back into the game with a brilliant free-kick that perfectly found Edouard for the equaliser. The attacker was top class in the good things Palace did in the final third, as he created many chances throughout the game.
Cheick Doucoure: 6/10
Doucoure put his team under pressure by taking an early yellow card and was walking a tightrope for the rest of the game. But he maintained his composure and saw out the game until he was replaced.
Eberechi Eze: 8/10
Eze struggled to get into the game in the first half, as his side was under tremendous pressure from Leeds’s attack. The attacker then turned up in the second half, getting the crucial second goal for Palace and putting in a great display.
Eberechi Eze's game by numbers vs. Leeds:
75 touches
13x possession won
8 duels won
6 fouls won
4 passes into the box
3 crosses
3 shots
2 chances created
2 take-ons
1 shot on target
1 goalThe match winner. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/vECEHSruSS
— Squawka (@Squawka) October 9, 2022
Jordan Ayew: 6.5/10
After an ineffective first period, Ayew suffered a nasty head injury but was able to carry on. He did have a good game after that, helping Palace retain the ball well in the final third.
Odsonne Edouard: 7/10
Edouard got Palace back into the game with a brilliant header to level the score in the first half. The complexion of the game changed after that goal. After that, he helped the team with his forward runs but was eventually replaced by Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Wilfried Zaha: 6.5/10
Zaha, the player to watch in our preview, looked ineffective in the first period, as Leeds contained his runs well during the half. In the second half, Zaha was much more of a menace as Palace turned up the pressure at Selhurst Park and put Leeds to the sword.
SUBSTITUTES
Tyrick Mitchell: 6.5/10
Mitchell came on for Schlupp and made a telling contribution by playing a key part in the Palace winner.
Luka Milivojevic: 5/10
Milivojevic was sent on to get more control in central midfield and probably replace Doucoure, who was already on a yellow.
Will Hughes: 5.5/10
With Palace in the lead, Vieira decided to strengthen the midfield with Hughes at the expense of Olise.
Jean-Philippe Mateta: 5/10
Mateta added fresh legs to the forward line and was also a good outlet to hold up the ball.
Leeds United
Illan Meslier: 5.5/10
The Leeds defence ensured Meslier did not face any action in the first half. However, the French goalkeeper could not keep out Edouard’s effort.
🎙 Jesse Marsch gives his thoughts after today's Premier League clash pic.twitter.com/gi9We86fFZ
— Leeds United (@LUFC) October 9, 2022
Rasmus Kristensen: 6/10
Kristensen found plenty of joy running towards the final third, as Leeds targetted that side of the pitch. However, in the second period, the right-back struggled to deal with Eze and Mitchell on his flank, as the former scored the second Palace goal from the left.
Robin Koch: 5.5/10
Koch helped deal with the threat of Zaha and Edouard in the first half, but the duo was more effective in the second period.
Liam Cooper: 5/10
Cooper stood strong to the challenge of the Crystal Palace attackers in the first period, but, like his teammates, he was under tremendous pressure in the second period. He could not do anything about the strikes against his side as Palace saw the victory through.
Pascal Struijk: 6/10
Struijk continued his presence this season as Leeds’s inverted left-back and got a reward for his team’s early pressure. The 23-year-old was in the right place to tuck home Aaronson’s shot that bounced off the post and gave Leeds the lead. He struggled for relevance in the second half as Palace ran the show.
Tyler Adams: 4.5/10
Adams was a good presence in the Leeds midfield in the first period. However, he was under different pressure after the Palace equaliser and struggled in the second half.
Marc Roca: 5/10
Similar to Adams, it was a tale of two halves, as Roca struggled to get a foothold in the second half. The Crystal Palace midfielders somehow got the better of him in the second period, as the home side were dominant throughout that half.
Brenden Aaronson: 7/10
Aaronson was a livewire in the opening exchanges, as his mazy run resulted in a shot that eventually led to the goal scored by Struijk. He could not maintain the intensity after that, as Palace came out stronger after the break and took the game to Leeds by the scruff.
Rodrigo Moreno: 4/10
Like the other Leeds attackers, the Spaniard was active in the opening period but faded as his team came under pressure following the Crystal Palace equaliser.
Jack Harrison: 5.5/10
Harrison should have done better with his delivery after an error by Guaita in the opening period. Other than that, there were some moments where he could have been lethal. He tailed off in the second half.
Patrick Bamford: 6/10
A decent first-half performance but somewhat off in the next period. The English striker had a few chances to create or score but could not do so. His wait for a 100th league goal continues.
SUBSTITUTES
Crysencio Summerville: 4/10
Marsch decided to change his striking options by bringing in Summerville for Bamford.
Luke Ayling: 5/10
Ayling replaced Kristensen as Marsch brought on fresh legs to deal with Zaha on the wings.
Mateusz Klich: 5/10
Klich barely made an impact as Leeds looked not to concede more.
Joe Gelhardt: 5/10
Gelhardt looked to find something of an equaliser but never came close to scoring one.
