When Eagles Dare charts Crystal Palace F.C.’s remarkable resurgence from financial ruin and administration in 2010, to playing in the 2013 Championship Play-Offs for promotion to the Premier League.

When Eagles Dare

## The Silencer ##
> After Christian Benteke joined Crystal Palace as a club record signing, he scored 17 goals in his first season to help the Eagles protect their top-flight status. 

Palace broke their club record transfer fee to bring in the Belgian hitman from Liverpool in August 2016, and he ended his first campaign with 17 goals for the Eagles.

Born in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, his family moved to Liege where he played his youth football before moving to Genk who handed him his professional debut.
 
After two years trying to break into their first-team, he moved to Standard Liege and chipped in with three goals in nine appearances to help them win the championship in his first season. 
 
A season on loan at Kortrijk saw him hit 14 more in Belgium’s top tier and he was rewarded with his first international call-up at the end of that season.
 
However the forward was sent on loan once again to Mechelen and later returned to Genk for the start of the 2011/12 season. It proved to be an inspired move as Benteke plundered 16 goals and nine assists from just 20 starts. 
 
Three more strikes in the opening five games of the 2012/13 season followed, and that was enough for Aston Villa to come calling with a £7 million offer. Benteke marked his arrival in England by scoring against Swansea City on his Villa debut.
 
He continued to take the division by storm and at the end of his first season in Birmingham he had amassed 19 Premier League goals, beating Dwight Yorke’s Villa record of 18 in a single season.
 
He was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award but came second to Gareth Bale.
 
Benteke would hit double figures in the league for the following two seasons but was cruelly denied a chance to represent Belgium at the 2014 World Cup after missing six months with an Achilles injury. Twelve months later, he reached the FA Cup final with Villa where he and his club would lose to Arsenal.
 
That summer Liverpool splashed out £32.5 million to make the hitman their then-second highest transfer ever behind Andy Carroll.
 
Things began well for him on Merseyside as he netted on his Anfield debut against Bournemouth and then scored a wonderful acrobatic bicycle kick against Manchester United, but following the arrival of Jurgen Klopp, he saw his first-team opportunities limited.
 
Despite that, he still managed to contribute 10 goals in all competitions, earning him a spot in the Belgium squad for Euro 2016 where he played twice in the wins against the Republic of Ireland and Sweden in the group stage. 
 
After his move to the Eagles, he made his debut in the EFL Cup second round tie against Blackpool in August 2016 and ended the campaign in style, finishing with 17 goals from 40 appearances to finish as Palace's top scorer.

Premier League, April 2015

Player of the Month

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Goals

Pre-Manchester United: Christian Benteke

Match action: Burnley 3-3 Crystal Palace

Benteke's thoughts on the 3-3 draw and scoring twice against Burnley

Extended highlights: Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle United

Match action: Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle United

Goalscorer Benteke on the draw with the Magpies

Benteke, Ward, Macca and Kelly: Act the Movies!

Christian Benteke pre-match interview: Chelsea (a)

Every pre-season goal: Summer '21

Behind the scenes on Premier League Media Day 2021!

Christian Benteke post-match interview | Watford

Christian Benteke talks on the 3-2 victory over Aston Villa

Christian Benteke | Post-Aston Villa

Benteke talks on the 2-0 win against Sheffield United away

Christian Benteke | Post-Sheffield United

Christian Benteke gives his thoughts after scoring in the 3-1 away defeat to Southampton.

Post-Southampton | Christian Benteke

Vote for your Crystal Palace F.C. goal of the season on the official Palace App or at https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2021/may/vote-crystal-palace-goal-of-the-season-202021

Which is your favourite Palace goal of 20/21?

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The game will take place at the Den between January 7th-10 2022, with full details, including ticket information, to be released shortly.

Palace last played the Lions in the 2012/13 Chamionship, with the 0-0 clash capping a pair of draws that season. Gary Rowett's men currently sit eighth in the Championship.

Palace's last FA Cup outing was Wolverhampton Wanderers away, losing 1-0 in a tight clash.

They reached the competition's quarter-final in 2018/19, and last made the final in 2016.

The FA Cup celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, with Palace being one of its founding teams in 1863.

Stay tuned to cpfc.co.uk, the official Palace app and our social media channels for more information about the Millwall clash!

Crystal Palace will face Millwall in the third round of the FA Cup.

Palace to face Millwall in FA Cup third round

Crystal Palace

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Rak-Sakyi helped Palace Under-23s secure three huge wins over Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, which pushed the Eagles to fifth in the top-flight.

He was nominated by the Premier League Football Development Panel, who will also select the winner.

Rak-Sakyi made his professional debut against Chelsea at the start of this season, and has played 12 games for the U23s so far, scoring nine.

He scored twice in November and featured for almost every minute of Palace's four games, playing the full match with Blackburn Rovers and Chelsea and coming off after 90 and 89 minutes respectively against United and Liverpool.

His goals against Chelsea and United ensured 2-1 victories, with his effort against the Red Devils coming after just two minutes.

We will share how Jes gets on across cpfc.co.uk, the official app and social media shortly.

Crystal Palace Academy midfielder Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has been nominated for the Premier League 2 November Player of the Month award.

Rak-Sakyi nominated for league POTM after Chelsea, Liverpool and United wins

#### Summary

* Paddy McCarthy makes a number of changes, including the return of Omilabu to the side

* Rich-Baguelou heads home the opener from D. Boateng’s excellent delivery

* Rosa fires wide after a blistering break forwards.

* Oka-Flex equalises from the penalty spot after Rich-Baghuelou’s late challenge.

* **HT: Palace 1-1 West Ham**

* Rak-Sakyi misses the target after excellent work from Omilabu.

* Moments later Rak-Sakyi drives through the defence and slots home.

* Oko-Flex equalises with a smart finish from the angle.

* He completes his hattrick moments later to give West Ham the lead.

* Swyer makes it four with ten minutes to go.

* **FT: Palace 2-4 West Ham**

The wet, blustery conditions that enveloped the show pitch at the Academy did nothing to stop these two sides producing a frenetic start. West Ham pushed high from the off, causing Palace to concede an early corner, before Palace’s own press almost gifted the ball to John-Kymani Gordon.

The visitors forced the first real chance, Armstrong Oko-flex curling wide from the edge of the area after David Boateng’s half-clearance was intercepted – although Oliver Webber likely had it covered. At the other end Palace broke forwards, David Omilabu and Nya Kirby combining to force a corner.

Latching on to a deeper than intended delivery, David Boateng skipped past his man and delivered a fine ball onto the head of Jay Rich-Baghuelou, who towered above his marker to powerfully head home.

The opening goal buoyed Palace, and soon Jesurun Rak-Sakyi was finding time on the ball to venture forwards. He was almost set in on goal by Omilabu, but the ball skipped away on the wet surface and the visitors could clear.

West Ham were still dangerous, a delicious square ball to Bernardo Rosa leaving the wide man in acres of space. His cross was blocked, the ball falling outside the area for shot on goal, but failing to trouble Oliver Webber.

Rosa was perhaps the biggest thorn in Palace side, robbing Noah Watson of the ball and breaking forwards at breakneck speed. Exchanging passes with a teammate, he received the ball in space and pulled the trigger, but narrowly fired wide. 

Just before half-time, West Ham were given a way back into the game. Latching onto a long ball forwards, Daniel Chesters raced in behind the Palace defence and through on goal, only for his shot to be blocked by Webber. Sliding in was Rich-Baghuelou however, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. 

Oko-flex stepped up and tucked the ball home and, despite Palace domination of the first period, it saw West Ham go in level.

The second-half started no slower than the first, and Rak-Sakyi was at the centre of the action. The first chance was crafted by Omilabu, jinking away from the attentions of the defender before crossing low, only for a stretching Rak-Sakyi to miss the target.

Moments later he made up for the miss – and more. Picking the ball up on the right, he danced past two defenders and tried to tee up Gordon in the six-yard box; the ball ricocheted back to his feet, and he coolly slotted home.

Palace’s lead didn’t last long, and after Rak-Sakyi’s brilliance it was West Ham’s own special number 11 that drew them back level. Turning away from the defender as he raced into the area, the angle looked to tight for Oko-Flex to let fly, but he unleashed a stunning shot across the face of goal and in off the inside of the post. 

Unhappy with several niggly refereeing decisions, Palace’s frustration began to show. The visitors reclaimed possession outside the hosts’ penalty area, the pressure forcing a loose challenge in the box to give them their second spot-kick of the game. 

Oko-Flex stepped up and completed his hattrick with the cheekiest of ‘panenka’ penalties. 

Palace pushed forwards to try and secure the equaliser, leaving space for West Ham to punish Palace on the break, and Kamarai Simon-Swyer added a fourth with ten minutes remaining.

The Eagles refused to let their heads drop, and Gordon almost got one back in the final moments. In the end it took a goalline clearance to keep his prodded effort out.

Rak-Sakyi kept pushing into the final seconds, displaying those quick feet that make him such a threat at Under-23s level, but in the end it wasn't enough to force Palace back into the game.

**Palace:** Webber (GK), D. Boateng, Rich-Baghuelou, O’Brien, Watson, M. Boateng, Taylor (Roles, 87), Kirby, Rak-Sakyi, Omilabu, Gordon.

Subs: Sanneh (GK), Thiselton, Quick, Imray.

**West Ham:** Hegyi (GK), Rosa, Fevrier, Ekwah, Greenidge, Forbes (Mubama, 77), Chesters (Clayton, 50), Potts, Swyer (Dju, 86), Forson, Okoflex.

Subs: Tarima, Kinnear.

West Ham United came from behind to beat Crystal Palace Under-23s in a pulsating fixture at the Academy, as Paddy McCarthy's young Eagles saw a superb three game winning run come to an end.

Report: U23s beaten by West Ham in six-goal thriller

Crystal Palace PL2 v West Ham United PL2 (2021-12-06)

Announcement

Announcement

Palace to face Millwall in FA Cup third round

Rak-Sakyi nominated for league POTM after Chelsea, Liverpool and United wins

Report: U23s beaten by West Ham in six-goal thriller

Shop online

Latest Videos

U23 Highlights: Crystal Palace 2-4 West Ham

The Full 90: Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace | Palace TV+

Post-Match Press Conference: Manchester United (A)

Match Action: Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace

James Tomkins gives his thoughts following the defeat

Tyrick Mitchell speaks to Palace TV following the 1-0 defeat to Manchester United

20Christian
Benteke

Announcement

Announcement

Palace to face Millwall in FA Cup third round

Rak-Sakyi nominated for league POTM after Chelsea, Liverpool and United wins

Report: U23s beaten by West Ham in six-goal thriller

Shop online

Latest Videos

U23 Highlights: Crystal Palace 2-4 West Ham

The Full 90: Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace | Palace TV+

Post-Match Press Conference: Manchester United (A)

Match Action: Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace

James Tomkins gives his thoughts following the defeat

Tyrick Mitchell speaks to Palace TV following the 1-0 defeat to Manchester United

20ChristianBenteke

20Christian
Benteke