U21s Report & Highlights: Palace make winning EFL Trophy start at Swindon

The Young Eagles fell behind against the run of play when Antwoine Hackford capitalised on a Palace error to give the hosts the lead. Caleb Kporha levelled in first-half stoppage time, weaving his way into the area before finding the far corner to ensure the sides went into the break level.

Palace completed the turnaround 10 minutes after the restart as Seb Williams produced a superb finish from 25 yards following a short corner routine.

Swindon enjoyed plenty of possession as they searched for a way back into the contest, but Powell’s side defended resolutely to see out the closing stages and make it four games unbeaten.

Summary:

• Powell makes four changes, with summer signing Majni handed his competitive U21s debut.
• 10: Gibbard lashes over the bar from just outside the area.
• 12: Lee denies Middlemas one-on-one.
• 14: Danaher’s audacious 35-yard effort nearly dips under the crossbar!
• 20: Gibbard powers goalbound from close range, but the effort is blocked.
• 23 – Goal: Hackford gives Swindon the lead against the run of play.
• 32: Nascimento rounds Ward one-on-one, but fires over the empty net.
• 36: Benamar’s low drive is saved by Ward.
• One minute is added on...
• 45 (+1) – GOAL: Kporha powers into the far corner to equalise!
• Half-time: Swindon 1-1 Palace U21s
• 46: Pearman comes close twice for Swindon.
• 52: Gibbard rifles over on the half-volley from close range.
• 55 – GOAL: Williams' stunning strike makes it 2-1.
• 72: Kalembo comes on for his competitive U21s debut.
• 74: Sealey’s goal is ruled out for offside.
• 76: Benamar’s low driven strike grazes the far post.
• 87: Martin is almost played clear away on goal, but Ward is there to gather.
• Three minutes are added on...
• Full-time: Swindon Town 1-2 Palace U21s

Palace travelled to Swindon full of confidence after a brilliant 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in their Premier League International Cup opener.

Darren Powell made four changes to the side that had beaten PSG, handing summer signing Taha Majni his competitive debut and fellow new recruit Amaari Sealey his first start for the Young Eagles. Fifteen-year-old Nat Kalembo was also named among the substitutes.

The competition, which sees the Academy test its developing talents against senior opposition, certainly posed a physical challenge against high-flying League Two side Swindon...

Donning the Sash under the lights at the Nigel Eady County Ground, Palace looked to threaten early, repeatedly sending lofted balls in behind for Joe Gibbard, Adler Nascimento and Sealey to chase.

After a relatively uneventful opening, the game burst into life after 10 minutes with chances arriving at both ends.

Gibbard fashioned an opening on the edge of the area, but lashed his effort over the near post, before a mix-up at the back presented Swindon with an opportunity and Harry Lee produced an excellent one-on-one save to deny Ben Middlemas.

The frantic spell continued as Adler Nascimento threaded a pass through to Sealey, who looked set to break clear before Lewis Ward raced from his line to intervene. The ‘keeper could only clear as far as Euan Danaher, whose audacious effort from 35 yards dipped narrowly over the crossbar.

Palace continued to push for the opener on 20 minutes, with Tyler Whyte showing good perseverance to drive towards the byline before cutting the ball back. Swindon cleared, but only as far as Gibbard, whose first-time effort was blocked by a defender from close range.

The Young Eagles were then punished against the run of play as Majni was dispossessed, allowing Antwoine Hackford to race through one-on-one and convert.

Entering the final third, Palace came close to an equaliser as Nascimento latched onto Sealey’s lofted ball in behind and rounded the advancing Ward, but lost his balance at the crucial moment and fired over with the goal at his mercy.

The Young Eagles continued to force turnovers and carve out openings, with Dean Benamar dancing past several red shirts down the left channel before seeing his low drive saved by Ward.

With the board showing one minute of added time, Palace found the breakthrough they deserved as Kporha worked his way down the right with some brilliant trickery before firing into the far corner.

Ward perhaps could have done better, but there was no complaint from the Young Eagles as they headed into the interval level.

Swindon emerged for the second half with renewed attacking intent, forcing Palace to withstand a succession of dangerous shots and crosses, with Jaylan Pearman going close on two occasions.

The Young Eagles soon settled, though, and began to regain control of proceedings as Gibbard and Sealey combined with a neat exchange of passes before the former rifled over from close range.

Palace completed the turnaround on 55 minutes with a superbly worked set-piece. Nascimento’s cross-cum-shot was tipped behind at the near post by Ward, and from the resulting corner, taken short, Sealey picked out the onrushing Williams, who met it first time and side-footed beyond the diving ‘keeper from 25 yards.

Despite Lee not being seriously tested, the pendulum had swung in favour of the hosts, who were probing hard for an equaliser. Powell’s backline remained resolute, though, cancelling out several efforts in and around the penalty area before they could trouble the 'keeper.

Midway through the half, Swindon introduced a double change, including Freddie Hoare, their youngest-ever player to make his debut, as they looked to inspire a response and capitalise on their momentum.

Approaching the final third, Palace made a change of their own as 15-year-old Kalembo took to the pitch for his competitive U21s debut, a memorable moment for the Under-16.

The chances then began to fall Palace’s way as they looked to put the game beyond Swindon. Benamar intercepted possession down the left and flashed the ball across goal, with Sealey turning it home only to see the effort ruled out for offside.

Shortly afterwards, Benamar was played through down the left and cut inside before seeing his effort from a tight angle graze the far post.

Swindon continued to enjoy the majority of the territory and possession, but Powell’s side were frustrating the hosts, who struggled to turn their dominance into meaningful chances.

In the dying embers, Donte Martin was introduced for the second competitive U21s debut of the night and almost made an immediate impact, racing onto a through ball before Ward reacted quickly to smother the danger.

Three minutes were added on, but Palace successfully weathered the late Swindon pressure to make it four games unbeaten in 26/27 and, more importantly, secure a winning start to their EFL Trophy campaign in Southern Group E.

The Young Eagles will look to carry that momentum into Saturday’s Premier League 2 meeting with Blackburn Rovers at Sutton’s Borough Sports Ground, with the game available to watch LIVE on Palace TV+!

Palace XI: Lee (GK); Whyte, Somade (Fasida, 87), Majni; Benamar, Danaher, Williams, Kporha (Casey, 45); Gibbard (Kalembo, 72), Nascimento (Martin, 87), Sealey.

Subs not used: Hill (GK), Frazer-Williams, Adams-Collman.

Swindon XI: Ward, Ball (Negru, 66), Nichols (Hoare, 67), Butterworth, Hungbo, Inwood, Debayo, Middlemas (Butler, 45), Hackford, Kirkman, Griffiths-Brown.

Subs not used: Ripley, Glatzel, Pearman, Terry.