Report: Palace win on penalties after draw with Famalicão

28 Jul 2026

Crystal Palace earned a penalty shootout win over F.C. Famalicão following a 0-0 draw between the two sides at the Como Cup.

Summary;

Pierre Sage names a youthful starting XI for Palace’s second game of the evening
2: The Portguese side go close early on through Aranda who curls a shot wide of Matthews’ post
9: Matthews makes an excellent stop at his near post to keep the scores level
10: França goes close at the other end
43: Santos nearly scores an audacious goal from just inside the Palace half
45: Matthews makes another big save in the dying seconds to secure a penalty shootout.
Penalty shootout: Palace triumph 5-4 after scoring all five kicks, before Matthews saves Famalicão’s final kick to secure a win!

Match Highlights: Famalicao 0-0 Crystal Palace | Como Cup Group Stage

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Remi Matthews was the hero with an excellent save from Famalicão’s fifth penalty, after Palace had scored all five.
Famalicão were the second top-quality opposition Palace faced on Tuesday evening, and went close when Aranda cut inside and bent a shot wide after just two minutes.

At the other end Matheus França once again looked lively following his hat-trick against Swindon the other week and had the ball in the net – only to be penalised for a foul in the build-up.

Matthews was then forced into an excellent stop at his near post to deny Aranda, but only seconds later the Eagles had the golden chance of the match.

França was released through on goal after a high press from David Ozoh in midfield. The Brazilian let the ball run across his body before going for an outside of the boot finish, but was denied by a strong foot from the ‘keeper.

After the two sides went into the cooling break level, the tempo of the match dwindled in the second half of the 45 minutes.

Pedro Santos then nearly caught out Matthews with an ambitious effort from the halfway line but thankfully the ball dropped wide of the post.

But Palace were rarely caught out defensively. On one occasion they were stretched Koutsias thankfully whipped an effort wide with the goal gaping.

That meant penalties to decide who took the bonus point into their final standings tally.

And it was Palace who prevailed. França, Justin Devenny, Rio Cardines and Mofe Jemide all scored, but Famalicão responded with four perfect penalties.

That left Romain Esse with a pressure penalty, but he converted superbly.

It left Famalicão needing to score to stay in the contest, but Matthews made a superb low save to his right hand side to ensure Palace ended a mixed evening on a high note.

The Eagles will now face a third and final game of the tournament on Friday. Our opponents will be known following the conclusion of Group B tomorrow evening.

Palace XI: Matthews (GK), King, Jemide, Adaramola, Benamar, Ozoh, Devenny, Cardines, Esse, Drakes-Thomas, França.

AS IT HAPPENED