14 September 2024
Crystal Palace 2 Leicester 2
Despite only being three games into the Premier League season, both Crystal Palace and Leicester City knew the importance of getting their first wins of the season. The longer the pair go on in search of that elusive victory, the more talk will be about whether they have what it takes to secure survival in the top-flight during this campaign.
One thing you can never fault when The Eagles play at Selhurst Park is the cauldron created by their fans. They create an intimidating atmosphere for any visiting team with their huge banners, flags and murals. The best way to describe it as a low-key Borussia Dortmund due to the capacity of the ground, if only the players could take this intensity onto the pitch.
The Eagles threatened first as Eze was picked out on the edge of the box. Leicester’s very own ‘Sideshow Bob’ Faes did well to block as the Palace winger fed it into the path of Munoz, with a goal looking certain. He reacted quickly as the ball broke to Nketiah to get between him and the goal once again to protect his keeper.
Some great play from Steve Cooper’s side underlined everything The Foxes need to be on the road this season, clinical. Ndidi played the ball forward and Vardy got there before the keeper, took the ball around him and slotted home to give the visitors the lead. He then stood there and goaded the home fans. His shithousery has been missed in the Premier League.
Crystal Palace had the perfect opportunity to reply immediately. Eze twisted and turned in the box before looking to bury the ball in the far corner. Mateta was stood unmarked in the middle but sadly the winger’s effort was neither a cross nor shot as it went wide of the far post. So often the talisman for the hosts, it is rare to see him squander such an opportunity.
Leicester should have doubled their lead when Guehi completely missed a routine ball forward. Vardy seized upon it and fed a pass into the path of Ndidi in the box. Sadly for The Foxes, he sliced his effort well wide of the target. Palace’s centre back certainly did not look like someone worth spending in the region of £75m on there.
To further underline the point, twenty-seven seconds after the restart, the hosts were defending like a Sunday league team once again. They gave possession away, Leicester crossed into the box and Clyne played it into the path of Ndidi in the six yard box. He squared the ball for Mavididi to volley home and send the travelling fans wild.
Oliver Glasner’s side thought they had found a way back into the game moments later when Eze played it out wide to Mitchell. His cross picked out Mateta in the box who side-footed home to ignite Selhurst Park. Sadly the assistant raised their flag immediately to cut the celebrations short. That was more like the Crystal Palace we are used to seeing however.
It is a rare moment when VAR comes to the rescue of a team when they have a goal disallowed. It took some time to get to the final decision but it was adjudged that Mateta was in fact onside and the goal was given. It gave the Eagles’ fans a chance to celebrate the Frenchman’s goal for a second time in a matter of minutes.
That decision really ignited Crystal Palace and they came to life. Wharton was busy in the middle of the park trying to win the ball back out of possession. Kamada managed to find Nketiah in the box and his effort whistled across goal, narrowly missing the far post. The visitors were struggling to contain the hosts at this stage of the game.
At this point in the game, Cooper’s side had just minutes to try and hold on for the win. Palace were resorting to some hopeful balls forward, which seemed to be dealt with by Coady. As the ball was stolen from him, he lunged in with a challenge and brought down Sarr. The referee had no choice but to point to the spot. You can take the man out of Everton……..
Mateta stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to save a point for The Eagles as he stroked his penalty home. Selhurst Park erupted as their team earnt a point when it seemed nailed on that this was going to be a third defeat in four games. The grit they have shown to come back in their last two games could be vital to their campaign as a whole.
Leicester City will feel that they threw this game away after having established a two-goal lead but if there are any positives to be taken, at least they didn’t go ‘full-Everton’. If The Foxes didn’t know how cutthroat the Premier League was, they do now. Both sides’ search for that much-needed first win of the season continues but the point keeps them both out of the bottom three.
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