U21s Report & Highlights: Palace suffer defeat to Anderlecht in International Cup

The Young Eagles were left with too much to do after conceding three times before the break. George King’s late goal rewarded their sustained second-half pressure, but a stoppage-time penalty sealed a 4-1 victory for the visitors.

Summary:

• Powell makes three changes from Plymouth, including a start for first-team star Zavier Gozo.
• 2 – Goal: Sternal gives Anderlecht an early lead.
• 4: Lee tips Van De Ven’s first-time effort from just inside the area over the bar.
• 6: Williams fires narrowly over the crossbar.
• 15: Palace grow in confidence and begin to dominate possession and territory.
• 21: Nascimento can’t quite direct Sealey’s whipped cross on target.
• 23: Sternal’s curling effort grazes the top of the far corner.
• 30 – Goal: Van De Ven doubles Anderlecht’s lead.
• 33: Kporha latches onto Okoli’s lofted free-kick and stings the goalkeeper’s palms.
• 44: A diving Timmermans diverts Nascimento’s low drive around the near post.
• Four minutes are added on…
• 45 (+3) – Goal: Sternal makes it three for Anderlecht.
• Half-time: Palace 0-3 RSC Anderlecht U21s
• 54: Kalembo’s tightly angled, close-range volley is well saved at the near post.
• 56: Gibbard’s cross takes a wicked deflection before an Anderlecht defender scrambles it off the line.
• 57: Nascimento races clear on goal but fires straight at the 'keeper.
• 60: A neat give-and-go between Danaher and Williams ends with the latter blazing over.
• 66: A last-ditch challenge prevents Nascimento from racing clear on goal.
• 68: Angibeaud comes off the bench to make his first appearance of the season.
• 70: Williams’ audacious long-range effort is saved.
• 72: Angibeaud nearly makes an instant impact, but his close-range volley is well saved.
• 74: Kporha can’t beat Timmermans at his near post.
• 79: Sealey turns his marker and unleashes a powerful drive from distance, which is tipped over.
• 81: Angibeaud’s volley is pushed behind by a diving Timmermans.
• 83: Whyte’s audacious overhead kick flies just over the crossbar.
• 85 – GOAL: King reacts quickest to smash home an inswinging corner!
• Five minutes are added on…
• 90 (+4) – Goal: De Ridder converts a late penalty for Anderlecht.
• Full-time: Palace 1-4 Anderlecht

After a three-week international break, Palace returned to Premier League International Cup action looking to build on their opening 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain and strengthen their hopes of reaching the knockout stages.

Darren Powell made two changes to the side that lost to Plymouth Argyle in the EFL Trophy, with Taha Majni and Nat Kalembo replacing Tyler Whyte and the injured Benji Casey. David Angibeaud also returned to the matchday squad, taking a place on the bench after missing the start of the season through injury.

Palace were caught out inside the opening few minutes as Anderlecht took the lead with their first attack of the game. Pape Aliya Ndao pulled the ball back for Enzo Sternal, who steered it beyond the diving Harry Lee.

Lee was called into action again moments later, doing well to tip Terry Van De Ven’s strike over the crossbar as it threatened to dip underneath.

The Young Eagles soon offered a warning of their own, however, as Euan Danaher floated a delightful ball towards the back post for Majni to head into the path of Seb Williams, who fired narrowly over.

As the 20-minute mark approached, Palace began to grow in confidence, enjoying more possession and territory as they found their feet in the contest. They started to pose a threat in the final third, too, with a series of dangerous deliveries into the box narrowly evading a decisive touch from a Palace shirt.

Nat Kalembo then released Amaari Sealey down the right, and his pinpoint, whipped delivery was just too high for the rising Adler Nascimento to direct on target.

Following a brief stoppage for an Anderlecht attacker to receive treatment, the visitors threatened again through Sternal. Cutting in from the left of the penalty area, the forward curled an effort towards the far corner, narrowly clearing the crossbar to give Palace a reprieve.

Despite Palace enjoying a spell on top, Anderlecht doubled their advantage. The Young Eagles struggled to clear their lines as the visitors maintained the pressure, allowing Sternal to drive into the area before picking out Van De Ven at the back post to convert.

Palace looked to respond immediately, with Chuks Okoli’s raking free-kick lifted towards Kporha in the left channel. The wing-back brought the ball down superbly before calling Kamiel Timmermans into action with a powerful strike.

The visitors continued to withstand a succession of shots and crosses as Palace pushed hard to halve the deficit. On the stroke of half-time, Nascimento was sent through on goal and forced Timmermans into a diving save, with the 'keeper diverting his dangerous low drive around the near post.

Four minutes were added at the end of the half, and Palace looked increasingly likely to find a way through and set up an intriguing second period.

Instead, the momentum swung back in Anderlecht’s favour in the closing moments, as Sternal capped an influential first-half display by turning the ball home at the near post to make it 3-0 and leave the Young Eagles with a significant uphill task after the break.

Palace threatened just minutes after the restart as Nascimento used his pace to latch onto one of King’s trademark lofted passes in behind. He then teed up Kalembo at the back post, but the defender’s tightly angled, close-range volley was well saved.

The Young Eagles continued to pile on the pressure, with Gibbard’s cross taking a wicked deflection before an Anderlecht defender scrambled the ball off the line.

After Lee produced a strong save at the other end, Palace quickly turned defence into attack from the resulting corner, with Nascimento breaking clear on goal. His progress was disrupted, however, and his eventual effort was struck straight at Timmermans.

A neat one-two between Danaher and Williams then opened up another opportunity, with the latter teed up in front of goal but blazing over the crossbar from close range.

As the hour mark approached, Palace were certainly turning the screw in search of a way back into the game.

Palace continued to dominate possession, pinning Anderlecht deep in their own half as wave after wave of attacks came the visitors’ way. Midway through, a last-ditch challenge denied Nascimento a clear run through on goal, preventing the forward from going one-on-one with Timmermans.

The Young Eagles maintained their stranglehold on the game, with the vast majority of the play taking place in Anderlecht’s defensive third.

Williams tried his luck from distance, but his audacious effort was struck straight at Timmermans, before substitute Angibaud almost made an immediate impact on his return, only for the ‘keeper to produce a brilliant stop to keep out his close-range volley.

Kporha was the next to test Timmermans, driving into the right side of the area before seeing his effort repelled by another superb reaction save. Despite Palace’s sustained pressure and growing list of chances, the ball simply would not fall their way.

With ten minutes remaining, Palace showed no sign of relenting as they continued to search for a way back into the contest. Sealey turned his marker brilliantly before unleashing a powerful strike that Timmermans could only parry over the crossbar.

Sealey then delivered another dangerous ball into the box, where Angibaud attempted to turn it home on the volley, only for Timmermans to dive across and tip the effort behind.

The Young Eagles came agonisingly close again when Whyte’s audacious overhead kick almost nestled underneath the crossbar, as Palace continued to throw everything at the visitors.

Their persistence finally paid off in the 85th minute when King reacted quickest to a dangerous inswinging corner, smashing the ball home to give Palace a lifeline.

However, despite five minutes of added time offering a final opportunity to mount a late comeback, Anderlecht won a penalty in the closing stages, which Alexander De Ridder converted to seal a 4-1 victory.

It was a much-improved second-half performance from the Young Eagles, who had dominated possession and created a succession of chances after the break, but they were ultimately left with too much to do following a difficult first half.

The result leaves Palace third in Group D on goal difference, level on three points with Brighton and Anderlecht, who moved top after their victory.

Powell’s side will look to respond when they return to Premier League 2 action on Sunday (18th October), travelling to Leeds United for a 12:00 BST kick-off – a game you can watch LIVE on Palace TV+!

Palace XI: Lee (GK); Somade (Whyte, 45), Okoli, Majni (King, 45); Kporha, Danaher, Williams, Kalembo; Gibbard (Angibeaud, 68), Nascimento ©, Sealey (Martin, 89).

Subs not used: Hill, Adams-Collman, Gozo.

RSC Anderlecht U21s: Timmersmans (GK), Sternal, Koite (Kana, 86), Liema, Sarr (Mujangi Bia, 79), De Ridder, Wetshay, Flips © (Akomolede, 86), Engwanda, Van De Ven (Benktib, 63), Ndao.

Subs not used: Vanhoutte, Dao, Adbellaoui.