U21s Report & Highlights: Palace beat Newport to reach EFL Trophy knockouts for first time

The Young Eagles took a deserved first-half lead when Jasper Judd reacted quickest to turn home Amaari Sealey’s inswinging corner on 10 minutes, while George King produced an extraordinary acrobatic clearance at the other end to divert Dan Sassi’s goalbound header onto the crossbar.

But the hosts emerged strongly after the interval, drawing level through James Crole before Harry Lee produced a stunning double-save to prevent them taking the lead.

With the contest finely poised heading into the closing stages, Angibeaud provided the decisive moment, taking a superb first touch just inside the area to slot past the onrushing 'keeper.

Palace then survived a late Newport onslaught, with Lee making another crucial stop, to secure a landmark victory and a place in the EFL Trophy Round of 32.

Summary:

• Powell makes five changes as Judd earns his first start of the season, Majni, Okoli and Sealey return, and first-team star Gozo comes in.
• 2: Sealey’s pull-back narrowly evades the onrushing Gozo.
• 4: Evans’ strike from the edge of the area is brilliantly blocked.
• 7: Okoli fires straight at the ‘keeper after being teed up by Sealey.
• 10 – GOAL: Judd reacts quickest to turn home after Sealey’s corner causes chaos in the box.
• 17: Gozo’s whipped free-kick is tipped around the far post by Turner.
• 22: King produces an outrageous acrobatic clearance to divert Sassi’s goalbound header onto the crossbar.
• 25: Turner denies Angibeaud, Okoli and Sealey as Palace threaten a second.
• 33: Turner sticks out a foot to deny Judd’s powerful effort.
• 36: Garner flashes narrowly wide of Lee’s far post.
• 39: Evans misses an open goal after Lee’s miscued clearance falls kindly into his path.
• Two minutes are added on…
• HT: Newport County 0-1 Palace U21s
• 48: Lee gets down well to push clear Crole’s powerful drive from distance.
• 51 – GOAL: Crole turns home Gwengwe’s cut-back, despite miscuing it.
• 58: Lee produces a superb double-save to deny Brennan and Gwengwe in quick succession.
• 61: Walker-Smith hooks Okoli’s lofted set-piece narrowly wide.
• 67: Okoli’s first-time effort is blocked inside the area.
• 70: Sassi makes a crucial block to deny Gibbard from distance.
• 78 – GOAL: Angibeaud rolls the ball past the onrushing 'keeper one-on-one to restore Palace's lead.
• 81: Gwengwe heads over from close range as Newport threaten an immediate response.
• 83: Turner tips Adams-Collman’s powerful strike around the post.
• Seven minutes are added on…
• 90+4: Lee makes a vital late save to preserve Palace’s advantage.
• FT: Newport County 1-2 Palace U21s

Palace's U21s travelled to south Wales knowing victory over Newport County would secure a first-ever place in the EFL Trophy knockouts.

After beating Swindon Town 2-1 and losing heavily to Plymouth Argyle, Darren Powell's side knew their fate rested on Tuesday's final group fixture.

Powell made five changes from the defeat to Southampton. Taha Majni replaced Nat Kalembo on the right of the back three, while Jasper Judd came in for the injured Caleb Kporha at wing-back.

Chuks Okoli joined Seb Williams in midfield, with first team star Zavier Gozo and Amaari Sealey also coming into the attack to flank David Angibeaud. Kai-Reece Adams-Coleman and Joe Gibbard dropped to the bench, while Adler Nascimento missed out through injury.

Palace made a bright start and almost fashioned an opening inside two minutes. Chuks Okoli won possession and slipped Sealey down the left, whose pull-back narrowly evaded the outstretched boot of the onrushing Gozo.

The Young Eagles then came close to undoing their own good work when Lee’s misplaced pass found Kieron Evans just outside the penalty area. Fortunately, the forward’s strike was charged down brilliantly before he could make Palace pay.

At the other end, Sealey laid the ball off for the advancing Okoli, whose effort from distance lacked the power to trouble Jake Turner.

But Powell’s side got the reward their positive opening deserved on 10 minutes. Sealey’s inswinging corner caused havoc in the Newport area, with the ball ricocheting between a crowd of bodies before Judd reacted quickest to find the far corner on the swivel.

The hosts were keen to respond and enjoyed a spell of attacking pressure, but Palace stood firm without Lee being seriously tested.

As the half approached its midway point, the visitors began to turn the screw again. Gozo's wickedly whipped free-kick curled around the wall and towards the far corner, forcing Turner into a strong diving save before the loose ball was scrambled clear.

The game then burst into life at both ends. First, King produced an extraordinary piece of defending to somehow hook Dan Sassi’s goalbound header onto the crossbar with an acrobatic clearance, preventing what looked a certain Newport equaliser.

Palace responded by taking the game to their hosts, launching wave after wave of attacks. Angibeaud's close-range volley was gathered by Turner, before further efforts from Okoli and Sealey kept the Newport ‘keeper occupied.

The Young Eagles were growing in confidence and came desperately close to doubling their advantage as the half entered its final third.

A flowing move involving Seb Williams and Sealey ended with Judd lashing goalwards from the right of the area, only for Turner to stick out a foot out and make an excellent save.

Newport were struggling to contain Palace's pace on the counter-attack, with the visitors continuing to threaten whenever they won possession.

There were, however, a couple of nervy moments at the other end. Gerald Garner flashed a strike narrowly wide of Lee's far post, leaving the Palace ‘keeper scrambling, before Evans was presented with another opportunity when a miscued clearance fell kindly into his path. With the goal at his mercy, though, the forward somehow missed the target.

Palace finished the half on the front foot, continuing to push for a second and forcing some resolute defending from the Exiles to keep the deficit to just one.

Palace had been excellent, combining defensive resilience with a real threat on the break to deservedly take a 1-0 lead into the interval.

Newport came out with renewed purpose after the interval and, having already forced Lee into a smart save from distance, drew level just three minutes into the second half.

Gwengwe’s cut-back caused problems in the Palace area and, despite Crole failing to make clean contact, the ball crept beyond Lee to bring the hosts back into the contest.

The momentum had shifted, but Lee was determined to keep Palace in it. As the hour approached, he produced a superb double-save, first getting behind Brennan’s powerful strike from range before somehow reacting in time to deny Gwengwe from the rebound.

Powell’s side responded well, with Charlie Walker-Smith almost restoring their lead after meeting Okoli’s cleverly lifted set-piece, only to hook his effort narrowly wide. Okoli then had a sight of goal himself, but his first-time effort was blocked after Gibbard had brought down Walker-Smith’s long throw.

With the game increasingly stretched, Palace continued to carry a threat whenever they broke forward. Benamar was causing particular problems down the left, delivering a succession of dangerous crosses as the visitors looked to find a way through.

Sassi then made a timely block to deny substitute Gibbard from distance before Gwengwe collected the loose ball and drove towards Palace’s goal, curling narrowly wide.

At the other end, Brennan came to Newport’s rescue with an important block inside the area to turn a dangerous Palace effort behind for a corner.

As the clock ticked towards the final 10 minutes, the contest remained finely poised. But Palace had one more decisive moment in them – and it was Angibeaud who delivered it.

Gibbard fizzed a flat pass into the forward’s path and, with Turner rushing from his goal, Angibeaud took a superb touch to tee himself up and calmly roll into the bottom-left corner to restore Palace's lead.

The Palace bench erupted, with the Young Eagles suddenly within touching distance of a place in the knockout stages!

There was little time to celebrate, however, as Newport immediately went in search of another equaliser. Smith’s delivery was knocked down by Sassi for Gwengwe, but the forward could not keep his header on target.

The closing stages became a test of Palace’s resolve. Adams-Coleman forced Turner into a save at one end, but the majority of the pressure came from the hosts, who pushed men forward in search of a late leveller.

Evans had perhaps their best opportunity deep into stoppage time, but Lee stood firm once more, producing a vital save to protect Palace’s advantage.

Seven minutes of added time were seen out through sheer determination, with every Palace player throwing themselves into the task of protecting their lead. When the final whistle sounded, the Young Eagles had done it – securing a place in the EFL Trophy knockout stages for the first time in Academy history.

Jubilant scenes followed as the players raced over to celebrate with the travelling Palace supporters, sharing in a landmark moment for the Academy.

The Round of 32 ties are scheduled for the week commencing Monday, 7th December, with further details of Palace’s opponents and fixture to follow.

Stay tuned to cpfc.co.uk, the official app and our Academy X (Twitter) page for updates.

Palace XI: Lee (GK); Walker-Smith (Somade, 77), King, Majni; Benamar, Williams, Okoli, Judd (Kalembo, 61); Gozo (Adams-Collman, 56), Angibeaud (Martin, 90), Sealey (Gibbard, 45).

Subs not used: Hill, Fasida.

Newport XI: Turner, Evans (Bamba, 73), Evans, Gwengwe, Crole (Biggins, 64), Thomas, Merritt (Davies, 82), Lewis © (Smith, 45), Garner, Sassi, Lenney (Brennen, 45).

Subs not used: MacDonald, Halpin.