Wilfried Zaha has scored in Palace’s past three meetings with Wolves, the Eagles winning all three of those games
Wilfried Zaha’s well-taken winner capped a classy Crystal Palace comeback as the Eagles recorded back-to-back home victories by beating managerless Wolves.
Adama Traore’s header earned the visitors a deserved half-time lead that was almost doubled when Ruben Neves hit the post right on the stroke of half-time at Selhurst Park.
But Palace never looked back once Eberechi Eze nodded them level from Michael Olise’s pinpoint cross just 63 seconds into the second half.
Zaha then took Odsonne Edouard’s pass in his stride before drilling past Jose Sa for his fifth goal of the season to lift Palace up to 10th place in the Premier League table.
Wolves, linked with former Ajax and Borussia Dortmund boss Peter Bosz as the latest name in their search for a successor to Bruno Lage, remain 17th, just one point above the relegation places.
They came close to rescuing a point in London but Neves’ late strike was superbly beaten away by Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.
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Entertaining affair surpasses humble expectations
Given Palace had scored just four goals in their previous five games and Wolves had only managed that meagre tally all season, a thriller was not exactly expected but both sides served up a pleasant surprise.
The tone was set after just four minutes as Cheick Doucoure rattled Wolves’ post from 20 yards and Guaita had to react smartly to keep out Diego Costa at the other end soon after.
Wolves then opened the scoring to end an away goal drought just five minutes shy of eight hours – 475 minutes to be precise – dating back to the opening day of the season.
Adama Traore’s 31st-minute effort was the winger’s first headed goal in English football
It was worth the wait as 20-year-old full-back Hugo Bueno, making his first Wanderers start, put in a teasing deep cross for Traore to bury a header inside Guaita’s near post.
However, the game turned either side of the interval as Neves’ 25-yard free-kick came back off the post just before the break and Eze headed Palace level right after the restart.
If that was a cool finish, Zaha trumped it with the winner, sending Sa the wrong way after a clever touch from Edouard’s low ball afforded him the freedom of the Wolves box.
Zaha shines for comeback kings Palace
Only four players have scored more Premier League goals in 2022 than Ivorian international Zaha’s 14 – Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Ivan Toney and Erling Haaland.
Wolves are only too aware of his talents – Zaha netted in both of Palace’s 2-0 victories against them last season and followed that up with the winner here.
He provided Palace with the magic in the final third that Wolves, for all their industry, are lacking, with Costa often an isolated figure after missing that early chance to open his Wanderers account.
The Eagles are making a habit of turnarounds, all three of their league wins this season – the others coming against Aston Villa and Leeds – have seen them fall behind first at home.
For Wolves, meanwhile, an awful away run of 10 games without a win goes on, even if there were positives for caretaker managerial duo Steve Davis and James Collins to draw on.
They will likely remain in charge for Sunday’s important home game against fellow strugglers Leicester City, by which time Wolves could sit in the bottom three if other midweek results go against them.
Player of the match
EzeEberechi Eze
with an average of 7.35
- Crystal PalaceCrystal PalaceCrystal PalaceWolvesWolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton Wanderers
Crystal PalaceAvgSquad number10Player nameEzeAverage rating
7.35
Squad number11Player nameZahaAverage rating
7.27
Squad number22Player nameÉdouardAverage rating
7.08
Squad number9Player nameJ AyewAverage rating
6.86
Squad number7Player nameOliseAverage rating
6.79
Squad number16Player nameAndersenAverage rating
6.63
Squad number28Player nameDoucouréAverage rating
6.62
Squad number14Player nameMatetaAverage rating
6.60
Squad number6Player nameGuéhiAverage rating
6.57
Squad number44Player nameRiedewaldAverage rating
6.50
Squad number13Player nameGuaitaAverage rating
6.45
Squad number3Player nameMitchellAverage rating
6.42
Squad number15Player nameSchluppAverage rating
6.29
Squad number2Player nameWardAverage rating
6.27
Wolverhampton WanderersAvgSquad number37Player nameTraoréAverage rating
6.93
Squad number8Player nameRúben NevesAverage rating
6.66
Squad number64Player nameBuenoAverage rating
6.62
Squad number29Player nameDiego CostaAverage rating
6.56
Squad number6Player nameTraoréAverage rating
6.47
Squad number4Player nameCollinsAverage rating
6.43
Squad number1Player nameJosé SáAverage rating
6.42
Squad number22Player nameNélson SemedoAverage rating
6.16
Squad number23Player nameKilmanAverage rating
6.15
Squad number27Player nameMatheus NunesAverage rating
6.03
Squad number10Player nameDaniel PodenceAverage rating
6.02
Squad number59Player nameHodgeAverage rating
5.90
Squad number28Player nameJoão MoutinhoAverage rating
5.68
Squad number17Player nameGonçalo GuedesAverage rating
5.07
Squad number11Player nameHwang Hee-ChanAverage rating
5.05
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsCrystal Palace
Formation 4-3-3
13Guaita2Ward16Andersen6Guéhi3Mitchell15Schlupp28Doucouré10Eze7Olise22Édouard11Zaha
- 13Guaita2WardBooked at 39mins16Andersen6GuéhiBooked at 90mins3Mitchell15Schlupp28DoucouréBooked at 45mins10EzeSubstituted forRiedewaldat 90’minutes7OliseSubstituted forJ Ayewat 80’minutes22ÉdouardSubstituted forMatetaat 81’minutes11Zaha
Substitutes
- 4Milivojevic5Tomkins9J Ayew14Mateta21Johnstone23Ebiowei43Balmer44Riedewald63Goodman
Wolves
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Malheiro de Sá22Nélson Semedo4Collins23Kilman64Bueno6Traoré8Neves37Traoré27Nunes10Podence29Diego Costa
- 1Malheiro de Sá22Nélson Semedo4Collins23Kilman64Bueno6TraoréBooked at 39minsSubstituted forJoão Moutinhoat 58’minutes8Neves37TraoréSubstituted forGonçalo Guedesat 58’minutes27NunesSubstituted forHodgeat 58’minutes10Podence29Diego CostaSubstituted forHwang Hee-Chanat 75’minutes
Substitutes
- 11Hwang Hee-Chan13Sarkic14Mosquera17Gonçalo Guedes19Castro Otto25Ronan28João Moutinho59Hodge77Campbell
Referee:David CooteMatch StatsHome TeamCrystal PalaceAway TeamWolvesPossessionHome51%Away49%ShotsHome14Away10Shots on TargetHome4Away4CornersHome4Away3FoulsHome14Away18Live Text Post update
Match ends, Crystal Palace 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
90’+5’Full Time
Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
90’+5’Post update
Foul by Jeffrey Schlupp (Crystal Palace).
90’+5’Post update
Daniel Podence (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+3’Post update
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+3’Post update
Foul by Hwang Hee-Chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
90’+1’Booking
Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card.
90’+1’Post update
Foul by Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace).
90’+1’Post update
Hwang Hee-Chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90’Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jairo Riedewald replaces Eberechi Eze.
89’Post update
Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Joseph Hodge tries a through ball, but Gonçalo Guedes is caught offside.
88’Post update
Foul by Joel Ward (Crystal Palace).
88’Post update
Daniel Podence (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88’Post update
Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88’Post update
Foul by Gonçalo Guedes (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
87’Post update
Attempt saved. Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Daniel Podence.
84’Post update
Attempt missed. Gonçalo Guedes (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
82’Post update
Attempt missed. João Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high.
81’Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jean-Philippe Mateta replaces Odsonne Édouard.
80’Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jordan Ayew replaces Michael Olise.
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Source: bbc.com
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