Crystal Palace Under-21s claimed their first victory of the 2026/27 campaign on Friday night, beating Aston Villa 2-0 in Premier League 2 at Bodymoor Heath Training Ground.
After a cagey opening, Palace grew into the contest and finished the first half strongly, with Cheick Doucouré going close in added time after Villa had applied sustained pressure.
Villa came flying out after the restart and were repeatedly denied by an inspired Harry Lee. Palace weathered the storm before Benji Casey struck against the run of play, with Adler Nascimento adding a brilliant second late on to secure the Young Eagles’ first win of the campaign.
Palace opened their 2026/27 Premier League 2 campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Arsenal, with first-team star Zavier Gozo on target for the Young Eagles.
Darren Powell made four changes from the side that faced Arsenal, with Charlie Walker-Smith, Sean Somade, Joe Gibbard and Makai Bernard-Ferguson coming into the starting XI in place of George King, Caleb Kporha, Joel Drakes-Thomas and Gozo.
Walker-Smith and Gibbard returned from injury, while Bernard-Ferguson made his competitive U21s full debut.
The hosts had the first chance of the game, with Cole Brannigan meeting a cross from the left with a tame half-volley that sailed comfortably over the bar.
After a lively opening spell from Villa, Palace settled into the contest and began to take control. Some slick combination play almost sent Nascimento through one-on-one on 10 minutes, with Doucouré providing the final pass.
Approaching the 20-minute mark, it had been an evenly matched affair. Rodrigo Fortes had forced Lee into a routine diving save after drifting inside from the left, but opportunities had otherwise been at a premium.
Mid-way through, an alert Lee was quick off his line to prevent Fortes latching onto a dangerous lofted pass in behind.
Entering the final third, Powell’s side were forced to withstand a succession of shots and crosses. The Young Eagles’ defensive resolve stood firm, however, as they weathered the wave of Villa attacks and looked to ride out the shift in momentum.
Following a brief stoppage for Bernard-Ferguson to receive treatment, Palace issued a warning of their own. Breaking at pace, Nascimento pulled the ball back into the path of the onrushing Gibbard, who flashed his first-time effort over the bar.
Five minutes from the break, Doucoure came agonisingly close to giving the Young Eagles the lead in spectacular fashion when his audacious half-volley from just outside the area grazed the post.
Up the other end, Rory Wilson was threaded through one on one with Lee, but the 21-year-old produced an excellent save with his legs, before the follow-up sailed over the bar.
For Palace, in truth, the half-time whistle could not come soon enough as Villa applied heavy pressure.
Yet, as soon as the board went up to indicate three minutes of added time, it was the Young Eagles who came closest to breaking the deadlock. Doucouré fizzed a low strike wide before the referee brought an end to a half in which the momentum had swung from one end to the other…
The hosts came flying out of the blocks after the restart, with Lee producing yet another fine save, diving to his left to palm away Burgess’ effort from range.
Moments later, Ben Broggio headed over Trai-Varn Mulley’s cross from the left before the Villa forward broke into the penalty area soon after. It looked certain to result in a goal, but Lee raced off his line and made himself big to deny him.
Villa were purring, with a succession of near misses keeping Palace under pressure, and the Young Eagles had Lee to thank for a string of early second-half interventions.
Approaching the hour mark, Powell introduced Casey as Palace looked to find a way through, and the substitute was soon involved as the game opened up at both ends.
Seb Williams’ left-flank set piece caused chaos in the Villa box, with a pinball-like scramble eventually coming to nothing. Broggio then tried to lift the ball over the advancing Lee, only for the ‘keeper to judge it perfectly and claim.
As the clock ticked past the midpoint of the half, Lee was called upon again, pushing clear Mulley’s well-struck effort towards the near post. Whatever Villa threw at him, the Palace ‘keeper seemed to have an answer.
Admittedly, against the run of play, Palace finally found the breakthrough as Casey put the Young Eagles ahead. Nascimento slipped Danaher into space down the right of the area, and his cut-back picked out Casey, who made no mistake, firing into the roof of the net.
The Young Eagles almost doubled their advantage from the resulting restart. Nascimento won possession high up the pitch before driving a low, powerful effort towards goal, forcing the Villa ‘keeper into a sharp diving save.
Despite Palace pushing to extend their advantage, Villa remained dangerous on the counter-attack.
Chuks Okoli produced an excellently timed last-ditch sliding tackle to deny the striker a clear sight of goal just a few yards out, keeping the Young Eagles’ lead intact.
In the dying embers, however, Nascimento produced a moment of brilliance to double Palace’s advantage and put the result beyond doubt. An alert Williams forced the turnover before working the ball wide to Nascimento, who checked back to deceive his marker before flashing a close-range finish into the top near corner.
Seven minutes of additional time were indicated, and Palace continued to search for a third. Williams rattled the post with a tightly angled strike from an inswinging corner, while Benamar’s whipped free-kick was tipped over the bar by the fingertips of the Villa ‘keeper.
The hosts had one final chance deep into added time, but the low strike was straight down the throat of Lee.
The result secured Palace’s first victory of the 2026/27 Premier League 2 campaign, and Powell’s side will look to carry that momentum into their Premier League International Cup opener against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday (2nd September, 19:00 BST).
Palace XI: Lee (GK); Somade (Danaher, 37), Okoli, Walker-Smith; Benamar, Williams, Doucoure (Judd, 76), Whyte; Bernard-Ferguson (Casey, 55), Nascimento, Gibbard (Adams-Collman, 76).
Subs not used: Hill, Frazer-Williams.
Aston Villa XI: Wright (GK); Burgess ©, Sousa, Fortes, Routh, Jenner (Boyd, 67), Mulley, Borland, Wilson (Johnson, 82), Brannigan (Lynskey, 58), Broggio (McGrath, 82).
Subs not used: Earley, Hayward, Quinn, Kweku.