Lofty goals: Six delicious chips from Palace history

Club

4 Dec 2024

Sometimes, it’s easier to put your foot through it. But then… nothing quite beats that moment of sheer anticipation.

You know what we're referring to: that seemingly endless period of time when the ball hangs in the air – agonisingly – between a forward’s foot and the net, or the moment it drops – gloriously – between the posts.

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s winner at Ipswich Town was a thing of beauty – but Palace have never been afraid of including a side of chips with their main order of goals, as these six delightful efforts show…

Don Rogers v Stoke City – February 1973

A deft chip, but a chip still we’d argue: Don Rogers’ 1973 Goal of the Season winner against Stoke City simply must be included in this list.

With Palace having led 2-0 at half-time through Derek Possee and Alan Whittle, only for Stoke to pull one back early in the second half, a moment of magic was required to restore the two-goal advantage.

And what a goal it was, as Rogers – leading a counter-attack from a Stoke City corner – played a one-two with Whittle inside his own half, raced onto the chipped ball forwards, tied two defenders’ feet in knots and delightfully popped the ball over the onrushing 'keeper John Farmer.

The match finished 3-2 in Palace’s favour – and Rogers' goal would never be forgotten.

Ian Wright v Chelsea – August 1990

A chip in the 90th minute to win it? You betcha.

Crystal Palace’s first home match of the 1990/91 season was won in style by Ian Wright, and late, late on, too.

Watch Wright's goal at 2:25 in the video player below.

The striker brought down a diagonal ball from John Humphrey, twisted his Chelsea marker inside out – and then flummoxed Blues ‘keeper Dave Beasant all ends up.

And all in front of the Holmesdale, as well.

Dougie Freedman v Gillingham – January 2002

Talking about sealing wins in style…

Palace Sporting Director Dougie Freedman would surely have approved of Mateta’s wonderful winner, having himself notched a delightful chip against Gillingham back midway through the 2001/02 season.

Watch Freedman's goal at 0:47 in the video player below.

The goal started with full-back Curtis Fleming, who cut inside and played in Freedman on the right side of the penalty area – but the striker still had some work to do to find the far top corner.

Achieve it, he did, as Palace ran out 3-1 winners at Selhurst Park.

Christian Benteke v Chelsea – April 2017

Yes, that is future UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match, Thibaut Courtois, between the posts...

But Christian Benteke had ice in his veins to score this quite remarkable effort in a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, exchanging passes with Wilfried Zaha, taking a touch to sit his Belgium international teammate down, and then scooping the most audacious of finishes over him.

A remarkable goal to cap a remarkable result: eventual champions Chelsea’s first home defeat in 10 league matches, and an outrageous goal to inflict it with, as well.

Jordan Ayew v West Ham – December 2019

Jordan Ayew picked the perfect day to unwrap the West Ham United defence, and then sprinkled in some festive finesse for good measure.

With the Eagles tied at 1-1 with the Hammers heading into injury time on Boxing Day 2019, the Ghana forward scored a simply majestic 90th-minute goal.

Ayew he did it in the kind of style which would assuage even the worst of festive hangovers – a mazy, majestic solo run; the most spectacular of spins; and the cutest of chips, later voted Palace’s 2019/20 Goal of the Season.

Glorious.

Jean-Philippe Mateta v Ipswich – December 2024

Oh, go on then – let’s watch it again…

All the Angles of Mateta's 28th Goal for Palace

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