Report & Highlights: Palace seal progress in style vs Middlesbrough

Pierre Sage’s first game in domestic English Cup football was an often end-to-end contest in the first-half, with a much-changed Palace creating the better chances – and deservedly leading as Strand Larsen glanced home Óscar Mingueza’s inviting cross on the charge.

Middlesbrough continued to have their moments but Palace sealed their progress in the second-half when Strand Larsen nodded in from Ben Chilwell’s pinpoint delivery and substitute Daichi Kamada sealed the win with a glorious lobbed finish late on.

Summary:

• Eight changes for Palace as Ahanor makes debut and two more Eagles make Selhurst bows.
• 13: Pino is denied after lovely play from Osorio and Strand Larsen.
• 21: Brittain cuts in from the left, but has a powerful shot saved by Benítez.
• 23: Pino’s effort from Mingueza’s pull-back loops towards the corner, but Brynn pulls off an incredible save.
• 35: Cozier-Duberry cuts in from the right and bends a low finish narrowly wide of Benítez’s bottom corner
• 37 – GOAL: Mingueza’s inviting delivery is glanced home on the charge by Strand Larsen.
• HT: Palace 1-0 Middlesbrough
• 51: The visitors threaten from a goalmouth scramble but Palace clear their lines.
• 53 – GOAL: Strand Larsen doubles his and Palace’s tally with a towering header.
• 61: Morris tests Benítez’s handling with a fizzing low drive.
• 72 – GOAL: Kamada lobs Brynn with an incredible finish to finish off the tie.
• 86: Lankshear fails to make contact with a late cross into the box.
• FT: Palace 3-0 Middlesbrough

Fresh from recording our first Premier League win over the season – a 3-2 thriller against Fulham at Craven Cottage – the Eagles were taking on Championship outfit, and 2004 winners, Middlesbrough at home in the Carabao Cup third-round.

The visitors had begun the season in impressive form, with three wins from their opening five games – but Pierre Sage was able to showcase Palace’s strength in depth this season by making eight changes, and still naming a strong starting XI featuring seven summer signings.

Among them were 18-year-old debutant and loanee Honest Ahanor in defence, with additional first competitive starts for Óscar Mingueza; Ben Chilwell (in his second spell with the club, having come off the bench to win Saturday's game); and Darío Osorio.

As you might expect from two teams having made eight changes each, the early stages of the game struggled a touch for fluency.

But the new boys still impressed, with Osorio pivotal to the first real chance of the game on 13 minutes. A driving run and clever spin saw him square for Strand Larsen, who flicked into the path of Yéremy Pino. The Spaniard cut inside his marker and attempted a placed finish – beaten away down low by Sol Brynn in the Middlesbrough goal.

For what it’s worth, Middlesbrough gave as good as they got in a bright enough first-half, with Callum Britain responding with a bustling from in from the left flank. His fierce hit towards the near post was beaten away by Walter Benítez in unorthodox but effective fashion.

Palace maybe ought to have led two minutes later. Another lung-busting run from Mingueza saw the Spaniard pull the ball across the penalty area for his compatriot Pino to attack, but a slightly scuffed finish took a deflection.

The ball nevertheless looped up promisingly towards the top corner – and Brynn, to his credit, produced a remarkable fingertip save to keep Palace, temporarily, at bay.

Pino was involved throughout and almost released Osorio with a chested control and slide-rule pass, only for the offside flag to be raised.

And up the other end, Middlesbrough still had their moments, with Amario Cozier-Duberry – generally well marshalled by Ahanor – this time managing to cut inside from the right and bend a threatening effort narrowly wide of the far post, albeit with Benítez possibly having it covered.

There were also some decent interventions from the new boys at the back, with Axel Disasi producing one impressive clearance on the stretch to repel a ‘Boro ball in.

Palace had been the better side, however, and deservedly took the lead on 37 minutes.

It was Mingueza’s invention which took the plaudits on this occasion, the Spaniard showing his left foot to be just as good as his right by checking back and swinging in a cross which Strand Larsen – sprinting ahead of his marker – did well to angle his run and glance into the bottom corner for his first goal of the season.

That effort meant Palace went in at the break with a fully-deserved lead – and although the visitors made a decent start to the second-half, almost benefitting from a goalmouth scramble, Palace were two to the good not long into it.

It was another full-back making the attacking difference for Palace. Chilwell – fresh from scoring the match-winner with his first touch at Fulham – produced another attacking return with a brilliant teasing delivery.

Strand Larsen, to his full credit, needed to apply a towering header to generate enough power to beat the ‘keeper – and duly did so to double his and Palace’s tally.

Middlesbrough in fairness kept plugging and Benítez was forced to be alert to plunge low to his right-hand side and first parry – then kick – away Aidan Morris’ low drive.

But with a two-goal lead and brimming with confidence, Strand Larsen began showcasing his class, an effort from long distance – and then a lovely pass into the path of Will Hughes – a sign of things to come.

For it was the Norwegian who provided the assist for the goal of the night, releasing a reverse pass into the path of substitute Daichi Kamada.

The Japan international, with not all that much of the goal to aim at and from near the corner of the box, lifted his head and lifted a glorious, arcing lob over the head of Brynn and into the far side-netting – a goal to crown the night.

Selhurst Park was in boisterous mode, with progression at this stage assured – the Eagles, back-to-back wins sealed, soaring through to the fourth round.

Palace: Benítez (GK), Tomiyasu, Disasi (Lerma, 73), Ahanor, Mingueza, Timber (Wharton, 59), Hughes, Chilwell, Pino (McNeil, 73), Osorio (Kamada, 59), Strand Larsen (Gozo, 73).

Subs: Matthews (GK), Mitchell, Khalaili, Guessand.

Middlesbrough: Brynn (GK), Brittain, Ayling, Jones, Malanda, Byram (Borges, HT), Malanda (Phillips, 77), Morris (Pukstas, 84), Cozier-Duberry, Peart-Harris, Conway, Strelec (Lankshear, 67).

Subs: Vitek (GK), Arfsten, Barron, Berhalter.