U18s Report: Palace suffer Southampton defeat

The Saints raced into a four-goal lead before half-time, but the Young Eagles responded strongly after the break, with Raihaan Anderson pulling one back and Palace pushing to make the final stages nervy.

Summary:

• Javier Alonso makes two changes, Baah and Ogunrinde come in for the injured Mulvenna and Kalembo.
• 3: Brave ‘keeping from Benetton prevents Comley latching onto a ball in behind.
• 6: Greaves’ pull-back sparks a pinball-like scramble that’s cleared.
• 15: A succession of crosses from Southampton fail to trouble Benetton.
• 18: Martin heads the inswinging corner narrowly wide of the near post.
• 26 – Goal: Daniels opens the scoring for Southampton.
• 28 – Goal: Comley makes it two.
• 30 – Goal: Comley has his brace.
• 41 – Goal: Daniels scores.
• 45 (+1): Martin nearly capitalises on a loose pass back to the ‘keeper.
• Half-time: Palace U18s 0-4 Southampton U18s
• 49: Martin forces the ‘keeper into an excellent diving save.
• 57: Greaves’ cross almost falls kindly for Martin to stab home close-range.
• 65: Martin’s denied one-on-one.
• 68 – GOAL: Anderson grabs one back for Palace on the half-volley.
• 72: Palace have a header cleared off the line.
• 76: Edokpaye and Sime are introduced for their U18 debuts.
• 84: Moses rattles the post.
• 88: Benetton is forced into a number of saves.
• Four minutes are added on...
• 90 (+3) – RED CARD: Owoade is brandished a red card for violent conduct.
• FT: Palace U18s 1-4 Southampton U18s

AJ Greaves’ brace helped Palace begin their 2026/27 U18 Premier League South campaign with a hard-fought 3-1 victory at West Ham United last week.

Injuries to Alfie Mulvenna and Nat Kalembo meant a reshaped backline for Southampton’s visit, with Dylan Monk flanked by first-year scholar Kwasi Baah and 14-year-old Isaac Ogunrinde, both making their U18s debuts.

Three Under-16s – Dominic Sime, Zakhi Amoah-Philip and Fortune Edokpaye – were also named on the bench.

Brave goalkeeping from an alert Lucca Benetton saw him race off his line to prevent Wyatt Comley from latching onto a ball in behind inside three minutes.

Palace responded with a swift counter-attack, with Greaves’ pull-back sparking a pinball-like scramble that Southampton eventually cleared.

After a brief stoppage, the visitors began to take control, with a succession of dangerous crosses flashing across the face of goal. Benetton remained untroubled, however.

The first real heart-in-mouth moment came just after the quarter-hour mark, when Bobby Martin met an inswinging corner but, thankfully, headed the wrong side of the post.

A few minutes later, Comley drifted inside before driving a low, powerful effort straight at Benetton.

Southampton were beginning to turn the screw as the half-hour mark approached, and their pressure soon told. Jude Daniels broke the deadlock before Comley struck twice in quick succession to complete his brace and leave the Young Eagles with a mountain to climb.

Palace looked to respond and began to carve out a few openings, but Southampton dealt another blow on the stroke of half-time as Daniels found the net for his second and the visitors’ fourth.

Martin came agonisingly close to pulling one back for the hosts moments later, almost capitalising on a stray pass back to the ‘keeper, but the Saints held firm to head into the break four goals to the good.

Alonso’s side emerged from the break with renewed attacking intent, and Martin was soon presented with an opportunity to pull one back.

Seb Bonsu-Amako won possession and released the forward down the left, but his effort was superbly kept out by the diving Southampton ‘keeper.

The momentum had shifted firmly in the Young Eagles’ favour, with Palace applying sustained pressure to the Saints’ backline.

Another big opening arrived just before the hour mark as Greaves raced down the right and flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but it evaded the onrushing Martin.

Palace continued to dominate possession and territory, with Dotun Lamidi embarking on a brilliant marauding run before threading Martin through on goal. The Palace forward was denied one-on-one by the ‘keeper.

The pressure finally told. Southampton cleared an deep long throw only as far as Anderson, who met the loose ball with a half-volley that he drilled into the ground and beyond the diving ‘keeper to give Palace a deserved breakthrough on 70 minutes.

The Young Eagles continued to ask questions, with a rising header at the back post cleared off the line as Palace searched for another.

As the game entered its final third, Alonso’s side continued to push for a nervy finish. Anderson cut inside and saw his curling effort blocked, before Martin battled his way through a sea of blue shirts in the box, only for Southampton to scramble the ball clear.

Towards the latter stages, Alonso introduced U16s Fortune Edokpaye and Dominic Sime for their U18s debuts.

Moments later, Owoade’s trickery down the right saw him beat a number of Saints defenders before squaring for Moses, who shifted onto his left foot and rattled the post.

Benetton was called into action in the dying embers before six minutes of additional time was indicated.

Unfortunately, substitute Owoade was shown a red card in the final minute for violent conduct, bringing a sour end to the contest.

Palace will look to return to winning ways on Tuesday (25th August, KO: 13:30 BST), when the Young Eagles begin their defence of the U18 Premier League Cup against Nottingham Forest at the Nigel Doughty Academy - a game you can enjoy LIVE on Palace TV+!

Palace U18s: Benetton (GK); Baah (Owoade, 59), Monk (Lee, 69), Ogunrinde (Sime, 76); Anderson, Fasida, Moses, Bonsu-Amako, Greaves ©; Martin (Edokpaye, 76), McDonald (Lamidi, 45).

Subs not used: Speroni, Amoah-Philip.

Southampton U18s: Clark, Wells (Bariami, 64), Vallance, Martin, Sewell, Nutter (Lovatt, 45), Comley (Lemon, 45), Sainsbury, Daniels (Kuzanga, 76), Hawe, Parry (Robinson, 66).

Subs not used: Moloney.