The Young Eagles opened their campaign with a 3-1 victory at West Ham United and will now bid to make it two wins from two when the Saints visit the Academy on Saturday (11:00 BST) – a game you can enjoy LIVE on Palace TV+!
Alonso praises Young Eagles ahead of Southampton test
Crystal Palace Under-18s head coach Javier Alonso praised his side’s winning start to the Premier League South campaign – before looking ahead to Saturday’s home clash with Southampton (11:00 BST).
The U18 Premier League South is the top level of U18 football for Category One academies, with teams split into northern and southern sections before the two section winners meet to decide the national champions.
Either side of Joel Kerr’s penalty for West Ham, Ajean Greaves scored twice as captain before debutant Toby Williams sealed the three points with a spectacular strike from the halfway line.
“I’m very happy with the performance of the team,” Alonso said. “I think the team was very competitive. I think we had a good pre-season, the boys are ready and for that reason we beat West Ham the other day.
“I think the game was very tight. We started very strong, we scored in the first two or three minutes, I think. We had some chances after that.
“After 25 minutes, they started pushing more. The second half, I think, was more for us. We had some chances, we punished and I think we deserved a win because we had more chances than them.”
Greaves was handed the captaincy for the season opener, with Alonso explaining why the forward was the right choice to lead his side.
“He’s the skipper because I think his values are very good,” he said. “He’s a hard worker, he’s a teammate, he wants to help the team. I think he’s a very good player also.
“Hopefully, he can have a great season. I can see that he has a lot of hunger and he wants to improve. He’s very quick and he can always create something for the team.
“Also, he’s a good defender. He has a character and for that reason he’s the skipper and for that reason he held the team the other day with two goals.”
Williams then provided the final highlight, finding the net from the half-way line in added time on his U18 debut. Alonso was left almost lost for words…
“Yes, it was an unbelievable goal. Nothing to say. It was on him.
“He made the touch and he looked the goalkeeper in not the best position.”
There was also plenty to be encouraged by from the players stepping up from the Under-16s, with Nathaniel Kalembo starting and Arthur O’Keefe coming on at half-time for his U18s debut.
O’Keefe had also received an England U16 call-up just days earlier.
“Great. Very, very good. I’m very happy with both,” said Alonso. “Nat Kalembo is a very good player. Also, Arthur.
“Nat started the game. He’s a good defender, he always wants to learn and he’s very switched on. He’s very technical and he’s a very good boy.
“Arthur played at half-time. He played 45 minutes. We spoke with him about what we wanted from him and he’s working very hard.
“I’m very happy with him. He gave everything on the pitch. He’s also a good teammate. He’s running up and down, with a lot of energy. He’s technical.
“Very good.”
Southampton will provide another stern test on Saturday, having also started the campaign with a victory, beating Brentford 4-2.
Alonso is expecting a tight contest between two sides looking to make it consecutive league wins.
“It’s very important, of course. We also want to win. We play at home.
“They are a very good team. They have very good players and a very good team. They are also very technical.
“They play very good in possession. I think it will be a tight game. Both are good teams.”
How to follow
The match will be streamed LIVE on Palace TV+ on Saturday, with coverage beginning at 10:45 BST ahead of the 11:00 BST kick-off. Find out more and subscribe here.
Supporters can also follow live commentary on our Academy X (Twitter) page, with a full match report and reaction published shortly after full-time in our Academy news section.
Highlights and extended reaction will be available on Palace TV+.
Match Details
Crystal Palace Under-18s v Southampton Under-18s
- Saturday, 22nd August
- 11:00 BST
- Crystal Palace Academy
- U18 Premier League South
- Watch LIVE on Palace TV+
