Goalscorers Adler Nascimento and Seb Williams reflected on Crystal Palace Under-21s’ impressive 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain at Sutton on Wednesday night.
The win saw the Young Eagles make a perfect start to their Premier League International Cup campaign.
The competition brings together 16 Premier League 2 sides and 16 invited European clubs, with the teams split into four groups of eight. Each English side faces the four European opponents in their group once.
Palace are in Group C alongside PSG, Jong PSV, Sunderland, RSC Anderlecht and FC Porto, with their four fixtures taking place at Sutton United’s Borough Sports Ground.
Nascimento opened the scoring in stunning fashion, bending a sublime free-kick over the wall and into the top corner, before Harry Lee saved a penalty on the stroke of half-time.
Williams then doubled the advantage early in the second half with a trademark half-volley. Although Noa Bezeme pulled one back for PSG, Palace held firm to secure three points.
“I think we knew it was going to be a tough game,” Nascimento said.
“We knew how they play. They like to be cute on the ball, but we knew we had to defend well, and that's exactly what we did.
“We took our chances when we had them.”
The result made it back-to-back victories for Darren Powell’s side following Friday’s 2-0 win at Aston Villa, while also extending their unbeaten start to three games.
“I thought we started the season really well,” Williams said.
“I think every game we just built and improved. Obviously, Arsenal in the first game, 1-1, and then 2-0 against Villa.
“Against a top team like PSG, we've done well. We just keep building on performances, and who knows what can happen this season.”
Nascimento has been in fine form, scoring all five of Palace’s goals during pre-season before finding the net against Villa and PSG.
“I just want to keep it up,” he said. “It's a hot start, but the season's not three games long. It's however many, so just keep going, really.
“Just keep the form going, keep the foot on the gas.”
Williams’ second-half strike was another fine finish, but the forward was quick to credit the build-up.
“I think it was a good ball that crossed it in, and as soon as it got to Benji, I knew he was going to set me, because he's an unselfish player.
“Then I just hit it as hard as I could, and it's gone in.”
The victory puts Palace top of Group C on three points, with Jong PSV and Sunderland on one and PSG yet to register a point, with each side having played once.
And having been involved when the Young Eagles’ won the competition in 2023/24, Nascimento is keen to go one better this time around.
“It's good to start over, and it's always important to win the first game,” he said. “Some of us know what it's like to go all the way to the final, so we just want to replicate that, to be honest.”
Next up is a different challenge, with Palace facing Swindon Town in the EFL Trophy.
With a longer break before then, Williams highlighted the importance of keeping standards high.
“I just feel like we've got to keep pushing each other in training,” he said. “I feel like this team has got really good morale in the changing room. We're all really close, so if we just keep this up, good things can happen.”