It almost seems like world football never has a rest as every team tries to cram as much practice possible into the short offseason break. Crystal Palace are well underway, but depsite the arrival of a new record signing, Alan Pardew’s men are yet to hit full stride.
The Eagles ran out 5-3 victors in their first preseason encounter with English League Two side Barnet thanks to a hat-trick from striker Dwight Gayle, the other two goals coming from Fraizer Campbell and young English Forward Reise Allassani, who scored in his debut for the first team side.
Crystal Palace fell behind in the second minute when Barnet’s John Akinde was able to get onto the end of an Andy Yiadom cross to put the ball into the back of the net.
Gayle then scored his hat-trick with three unanswered goals, the first to level the game and then establish a lead for Alan Pardew’s side. His first came from a free kick when he was fouled outside the box and was able to convert the ball past Barnet’s goalkeeper Graham Stack, the second after he was able to get on the end of a long pass and a long range strike hit the woodwork before crossing over into the net. The hat-trick completing goal was from the break, put through on goal with a header then making no mistake from his one-on-one opportunity against the Barnet custodian.
The League Two side got the score back to 3-2 just after the hour make after Luke Gambin made the most of a scramble in the penalty area to put the ball past the Crystal Palace’s goalkeeper Chris Keetings. Palace were quick to restore their two goal advantage, however, after a long diagonal switch was played from the midfield and Allassani was able to get to the ball and put it into the back of the net.
The back and forth action continued when Kevin Lisbie scored with a header facing away from goal, after a perfectly timed and weighted chip pass found him in the open.
Campbell was able to secure the two goal victory after a mistake at the back from Barnet saw the ball sit up perfectly for the striker, putting the ball into the back of the net with a half volley to end the game at 5-3 in favour of the Eagles.
Crystal Palace’s second friendly of the preseason did not go the way that they would have hoped though, falling 2-0 to German Second Division side Union Berlin in the German capital.
The first-half featured few chances for either side, the best falling to Crystal Palace forward Glenn Murray who thought he had scored after he got a header into the back of the net, however, the referee saw things differently and ruled that Murray had fouled a Berlin defender in the lead up play. Given that was the best opportunity of the half both sides would be looking to improve after the break.
The game was also the debut for record signing Yohan Cabaye, who was among the wholesale changes that saw first team regulars such as Yannick Bolasie and Joe Ledley came on for the second-half.
Both teams were fighting for the upper hand in the match, but neither could get onto the scoresheet. Palace came closest when Cabaye found Brede Hangeland in the box, coming close with a powerful header.
The deadlock was finally broken when Steven Skrzybski in the 57th minute, latching onto a through-ball and placing the ball out of the reach of Wayne Hennessey.
Palace then thought that they had levelled when Cabaye again put the ball into the back of the net, but once more the Eagles had a goal ruled out after Martin Kelly was found to be in an offside position.
It was a tale of missed opportunities for Crystal Palace, who continued to create chances but could not find a way to get the scores level. Sullay Kaikai came close with a long range opportunity, however, Berlin’s Goalkeeper Mohamed Amsif managed to tip the ball over the crossbar.
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Berlin put the result beyond doubt after a mix up between Hangeland and Cabaye in the penalty area saw Skrzybski pounce on the opportunity to get the ball past Hennessey.
The missed opportunities let Pardew’s men down as they had opportunities to score, however, the match ended 2-0 in favour of the Germans.
The next run out for the Eagles will be in South Africa for the Cape Town Cup, where they will take on Supersport United FC and then will either face Ajax or Sporting Lisbon depending on the result of the two games. Palace should be able to out class the South African side to face the winner of the other clash in the final.
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