U21s Report: Gozo strikes as Palace open PL2 with Arsenal draw

Despite Arsenal starting the brighter of the two sides, Palace finished the first half strongly. Joél Drakes-Thomas, Caleb Kporha and Zavier Gozo all went close as the Young Eagles began to turn the screw, with Gozo particularly lively.

Darren Powell's side continued to threaten after the break and took the lead almost immediately, with Gozo finishing off a flowing counter-attack.

Arsenal levelled midway through the second half, but the Young Eagles pushed for a winner late on and came closest in added time, when a scramble in the box almost saw Benji Casey turn home.

Summary

• Okoli makes U21s debut, Kporha returns, while Gozo and Doucouré start!
• 3: Lee is alert to nullify the threat of Harriman-Annous early on.
• 10: Nascimento almost picks out the onrushing JDT at the back post.
• 20: Palace’s resolute backline frustrate Arsenal.
• 31: JDT cuts inside and lashes narrowly wide of the far post.
• 33: Kporha bursts into the box and prods agonisingly wide.
• 36: Gozo is denied one on one from a tight angle.
• 44: Gozo stings the palms of Porter.
• Half-time: Arsenal U21s 0-0 Palace U21s
• 50 – GOAL: Gozo gives Palace U21s the lead.
• 57: Nascimento’s free-kick hits the outside frame.
• 64 – Goal: Harriman-Annous levels for Arsenal.
• 65: Doucouré makes way for Danaher.
• 69: Gozo has another effort saved by Porter.
• 72: Gozo makes way for Casey.
• 77: Casey’s half-volley sails over the bar.
• 80: Lee makes two top saves in quick succession.
• 86: Dowman let’s fly from range, but Lee tips over.
• Six minutes additional time is indicted
• 90 (+4): Salmon’s flicked header forces a routine save from Lee.
• 90 (+5): Casey’s strike is straight at Porter.
• Full-time: Arsenal U21s 1-1 Palace U21s

Fresh off the back of another memorable campaign, Palace returned to competitive action with a new-look U21s side.

The season opener saw the Young Eagles hand Chuks Okoli his U21s debut, while Caleb Kporha returned after an injury-disrupted 25/26 campaign. First-team players Cheick Doucouré and Zavier Gozo also featured, with the pair set to get 65 and 72 minutes in the legs respectively.

It was a lively start to proceedings, with a lofted pass in behind sending Arsenal's Andre Harriman-Annous clean through, but Harry Lee was quick off his line to nullify the threat and win a free-kick.

A few minutes later, Archie Stevens – who was beginning to cause the Young Eagles problems – flashed a low delivery across the face of goal, but fortunately there was nobody in red to convert.

Palace responded with a swift counter-attack, with Gozo slipping Adler Nascimento through down the right. The forward almost picked out the onrushing Joel Drakes-Thomas at the back post, but the cross was just beyond his reach.

Arsenal were beginning to enjoy the ascendancy as the 20-minute mark approached, but they had yet to seriously test Lee, with Ceadach O’Neill’s effort from just inside the area drifting wide.

The Young Gunners continued to probe, launching wave after wave of attacks, but Powell’s resolute backline repeatedly stood firm, with shots and crosses repelled as Arsenal grew increasingly frustrated.

Evan Mooney’s fierce strike from the right channel grazed the far post before Max Dowman’s pull-back was fired over by Ife Ibrahim, but Lee remained untroubled as Palace’s defensive discipline paid dividends.

Half an hour gone and the momentum was beginning to shift. Arsenal had gone closest to breaking the deadlock, but Palace had weathered the early pressure and were now growing into the contest.

Drakes-Thomas cut inside onto his left foot before curling narrowly wide of the far post, then Kporha burst into the penalty area and got a toe to the ball, only to steer his effort agonisingly wide.

The Young Eagles were now turning the screw, and another opening followed as Gozo was played in behind on the left of the area. His tightly angled effort was denied one-on-one by Jack Porter as Palace continued to threaten.

The final action of the half saw Gozo sting the palms of Porter with a venomous strike from the right channel.

After the break, Gozo continued to cause problems, driving with intent down the right before lifting a dangerous cross into the box that was gathered by Porter.

The 19-year-old would soon have his reward. A wonderfully weighted lofted pass from Doucouré**** was brought down superbly by Nascimento, who raced clear before maintaining his composure to square for Gozo, who converted into an empty net for his first Palace goal.

Arsenal enjoyed plenty of possession and continued to probe, but Palace were creating the clearer openings on the break. Nascimento came close to doubling the advantage when his whipped free-kick from just outside the left of the area clipped the outside of the frame.

Against the run of play, however, Arsenal found a way back into the contest after Dowman played Harriman-Annous beautifully in behind, with the forward lifting the ball over Lee to level midway through the second half.

Gozo had one final sight of goal before making way, although his tame effort was comfortably gathered by Porter.

A flurry of substitutions followed, with Doucouré also coming off after completing his pre-determined minutes. Benji Casey and Makai Bernard-Ferguson were among those introduced as Palace looked to find a winner.

Entering the final third, Benamar headed back across goal and Casey met the loose ball on the half-volley, but could only lift his effort over the bar.

Arsenal were pushing hard for a late winner, but Lee stood firm, using his legs to keep out Mari Salmon’s fizzing effort towards the near post before comfortably gathering the follow-up.

Dowman threatened again in the dying embers, drifting inside before letting fly from range, but Lee was equal to it, tipping over the bar.

Tired legs were beginning to show as the game became increasingly scrappy, with neither side able to find the decisive opening.

Six minutes of added time were indicated, and it was the Young Eagles who finished the stronger. Salmon’s flicked header from an inswinging corner was comfortably gathered by Lee before Palace came agonisingly close to snatching all three points.

A swift breakaway ended with a pinball-like scramble in the box, with both Drakes-Thomas and Casey going close to turning the ball home.

Powell’s side ultimately earned a share of the points in their opening game of the 26/27 Premier League 2 season and will look to claim their first victory in the competition when they visit Aston Villa on Friday evening (28th August).

Palace U21s XI: Lee; Whyte, Okoli, King; Benamar, Danaher (Doucouré, 66), Williams, Kporha (Somade, 62’); Gozo (Casey, 72), Nascimento (Bernard-Ferguson, 72), Drakes-Thomas.

Subs not used: Hill, Gibbard, Judd.

Arsenal U21s XI: Porter, Julienne (Sampang, 78), Ogunnaike (Washington, 68), Salmon, Upson (Clarke, 45), Ibrahim, Stevens, O’Neill, Mooney (Zecevic John, 64), Dowman, Harriman-Annous.

Subs not used: Ranson, Washington, Augustein.