Southampton recorded their first victory of the season after beating Crystal Palace 2-0 at Selhurst Park.
The Saints line-up was unchanged from their defeat against Leicester City the previous week. A huge boost for Southampton was the absence of Wilfried Zaha, as Palace had lost all 11 games in which the Ivorian hadn’t featured last season.
Palace had the first chance of the game after 26 minutes as the cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka looked comfortable for Alex McCarthy, but he misjudged his punch and missed it, leaving Christian Benteke with a free header. The Belgian international had taken his eyes off the ball, though, and it went wide.
Just past the half-hour mark, Saints had their first chance of the game, as Mohamed Elyounoussi’s free-kick was whipped into the box towards Danny Ings, but Luka Milivojevic’s interception via a diving header was guided towards his own goal. It would’ve gone in had it not been for Wayne Hennessey’s superb save.
Two minutes into the second half, Saints were ahead thanks to Ings. Cedric Soares played the through ball over the top of the sleeping Palace defence, Ings pounced on the ball and slotted it between the legs of Hennessey.
Minutes later, Palace were nearly level as James McArthur’s fierce shot was curled past a helpless McCarthy, but the corner of the goalpost came to Southampton’s aid.
On the hour mark, a goalmouth scramble of epic proportions occurred. Benteke’s shot was comfortably saved by McCarthy, but the ball fell back to Patrick van Aanholt, whose shot ricocheted towards the goal. The effort was blocked on the line before McArthur then proceeded to have a go, which was blocked by two Southampton players, before being cleared by Elyounoussi and then Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Four minutes later, Saints were awarded a penalty. A cross from Cedric was met by the newly-introduced Charlie Austin, whose shot was blocked by Wan-Bissaka with the use of the hand. Austin stepped up but his spot-kick was rather poor and was saved by Hennessey.
Saints should’ve had another three minutes after the missed penalty, as Ings flicked the ball into the path of Nathan Redmond. However, his driven shot was saved by Hennessey, and Elyounoussi’s rebound hit the crossbar.
Palace had a string of long-distance attempts which forced McCarthy into a couple of saves, first from Cheikhou Kouyate, then McArthur, but deep into stoppage time, McCarthy produced one of his best stops in the Saints shirt. McArthur’s cross was headed back across goal to the unmarked Benteke three yards out but, in front of McCarthy, his downwards header was fantastically stopped by the Saints ‘keeper.
Seconds later, it was game over for the Eagles, as Saints scored their second. Matt Targett played Hojbjerg through one-on-one and he slotted the ball around Hennessey.
It was a fantastic three points for Saints heading into the international break. When the team return, they’ll face Brighton and Hove Albion again, having just beaten them in the Carabao Cup second round.
