📰 Table Of Contents
Result
Everton and Crystal Palace faced off in the first of three FA Cup quarter-final ties slated for Sunday, looking to join Chelsea in the semi-finals.
Despite being in a relegation scrap, Frank Lampard opted to field a fairly strong XI on the day, as did Patrick Vieira whose Crystal Palace side have little else left to play for this season.
Everton started the tie well, pressing high and causing Palace’s defence issues. However, Palace would take the lead 25 minutes in when Marc Guehi headed in from a corner:
𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹, 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🤣@England‘s newest recruit, Marc Guehi heads home for @CPFC #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/kT5Sxxz8UK
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 20, 2022
Jean-Philippe Mateta then doubled the Eagles’ lead on 40 minutes before Wilfried Zaha added a third 78 minutes in to make sure of the win.
Pick that out 💪@Matetajphilippe with the first time finish for @CPFC!#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/EdSq5DO2ur
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 20, 2022
Crystal Palace player ratings
Jack Butland (6.5) – Decent first half making one save. Similarly solid in the second 45.
Nathaniel Clyne (6.5) – An unspectacular display but did little wrong.
Joachim Andersen (7.0) – A decent performance but nothing to write home about.
Marc Guehi (8) – Lucky not to concede a penalty in the opening two minutes. Did well to score the opener from a corner.
Tyrick Mitchell (7) – Linked well with Eze down the left, starting a number of attacks.
Conor Gallagher (7.5) – Another bright display from the Chelsea man, helping control play and creating a number of chances whilst also winning key battles in midfield.
Cheikhou Kouyate (6) – Poor in possession and struggled to have much impact on the game.
Michael Olise (8) – Excellent cross for Guehi’s opening goal. His effort that hit the post also led to Zaha scoring late on.
Eberechi Eze (7) – Good vision to find Zaha in the build-up to Palace’s second. Off after 70 minutes, a bright showing.
Wilfried Zaha (8.5) – Came close to scoring after half an hour but put his effort wide. Excellent low cross to set up Mateta. Got his goal after 78 minutes after missing a good chance a few moments before.
Jean Philippe Mateta (8) – Bright start to the game running at Everton’s defence with force. Nearly set Zaha up early on before getting his goal 40 minutes in.
Subs
Luka Milivojevic (6) – Brought on to help see out the game, which Palace did well.
Odsonne Edouard (4.5) – Had little impact during his time on the pitch.
Will Hughes (6.5) – Came on late and netted Palace’s 4th.
Christian Benteke (4) – Did little when he came on for the final seven minutes.
Everton player ratings
Jordan Pickford (4.5) – Could have done better with Palace’s second goal. Distribution wasn’t great and parried a Gallagher shot straight at Hughes for the Eagles’ 4th of the day.
Seamus Coleman (6.5) – Good tackle to deny a likely goal from Mateta late in the first 45. Taken off late in the game when Everton were looking for more in attack. Everton’s best defender on the day.
Mason Holgate (4) – Marking on the day was very poor, as was his passing.
Michael Keane (4.5) – Probably should have done a better job marking Guehi for his opener.
Ben Godfrey (3.5) – Poor marking of Zaha that nearly led to a goal early on, before a similar story late in the first half did lead to a goal. Was then sat down by the Ivorian late in the match which should have led to yet another goal.
Jonjoe Kenny (3) – Struggled at both ends of the pitch before being taken off at half-time.
Antony Gordon (4.5) – Gave the ball away on a number of occasions and created very little.
Abdoulaye Doucoure (4) – Poor marking for the Palace opener. A similar story for the hosts’ second, just letting Zaha run in behind him.
Andre Gomes (4) – Poor tracking of Mateta for Palace’s second goal.
Andros Townsend (N/A) – Off injured after 16 minutes.
Richarlison (5) – Did not work well as the main focal point of Everton’s attack in the first half. Slightly better when DCL came on but still not great.
Subs
Demarai Gray (5.5) – Struggled to have the same impact as Andros Townsend. Came to life more in the second half but not to any telling effect.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – Brought on at the break, gave Everton more of a focal point to aim for in attack but was unable to have too much of an impact.
Alex Iwobi (6) – Showed some quality when brought on, putting in a few decent crosses which came to nothing.
What they said
Zaha on making the FA Cup semi-finals: “It shows the direction the club is going – the club is heading in a good direction.
“Fantastic feeling going to Wembley – we’ve achieved a lot this season and we can’t wait.”
England international Marc Guehi on his form at the moment: “I’m really enjoying it! It’s fantastic. I just really hope we can continue this form”.
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