Crystal Palace shocked Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 to reach the FA Cup fifth Round at Selhurst Park on Sunday evening.
Connor Wickham scored the first goal in only the ninth minute as he converted from close range on his first Palace start in over two years. Andros Townsend doubled the advantage from the penalty spot against his former club mid-way through the first-half.
Kieran Trippier should have halved the deficit as Spurs were awarded their own spot-kick but he put an awful effort well wide.
Wickham ends long drought
Tottenham enjoyed the majority of the possession in the opening stages but Wickham, making his first start for Crystal Palace in 792 days, got the Eagles off to the perfect start. The credit should have gone hugely to Jeffrey Schlupp as he powered into the Spurs penalty area and shot at the bottom corner. Paulo Gazzaniga saved well but only served to parry the ball into the path of Wickham who tapped in with his knee.
Roy Hodgon’s men were given the opportunity to double the lead mid-way through the first-half as the referee awarded a penalty for a Kyle Walker-Peters handball. Andros Townsend stepped up against his former club and sent Gazzaniga the wrong way to make it 2-0.
He should have had another only seconds later after an excellent flowing move but this time, the Spurs stopper came out on top.
Tottenham pass up opportunity to get a foothold
Georges-Kevin N’Koudou was then guilty of spurning a great opportunity for the visitors as he was picked out by Trippier’s clever free-kick. Only yards from goal, he was twice denied by Julian Speroni.
Spurs were eventually given a marvellous opportunity to halve the deficit as Juan Foyth was fouled by Patrick van Aanholt, with the visitors being given a penalty of their own. Trippier was again the man to assume responsibility but he blazed his effort well wide of goal.
Spurs ramp up pressure
Mauricio Pochettino reacted after the break as he introduced Erik Lamela. Fernando Llorente went close as his deflected effort looked destined for the bottom corner but Julian Speroni reacted extremely well.
The opportunities continued to come for the visitors but they weren’t quite able to take them. Lamela had a great chance blocked, whilst Llorente was only inches away from turning home Trippier’s low cross. However, they were not able to find a route back into the game as Palace progressed following an excellent victory.
Final Thoughts
Roy Hodgson will be delighted with the performance from his Crystal Palace side. The Eagles were brilliant in the first-half and deserved their two-goal advantage. They were made to defend throughout the majority of the second-period as Spurs tried their hardest to get back into the game. The hosts’ defending was confident and resolute as they reach the fifth round whilst Tottenham have been eliminated out of another cup competition.
Match Report
Crystal Palace: Speroni 7(); van Aanholt (6), Dann (7), Kelly (7), Ward (7); Meyer (6) (Milivojevic (N/A), 79′) , Kouyate (7), Schlupp (7); Zaha (6), Townsend (8) (Ayew (N/A), 88′), Wickham (7) (Benteke (6), 70′).
Tottenham Hotspur: Gazzaniga (7); Vertonghen (5) (Lamela (7), 45′), Sanchez (6), Foyth (6); Walker-Peters (5), Dier (5) (Wanyama (6), 62′), Skipp (6), Trippier (6); N’Koudou (5), Moura (6) (Sterling (N/A), 81′), Llorente (5).
Goals: Wickham (9′), Townsend PEN (34′)
Referee: Kevin Friend
Yellow Cards: Sanchez (55′), Foyth (60′), Benteke (90+2′), Zaha (90+3′)
Red Cards: N/A
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