Crystal Palace vs Everton

Recap

Carlos Alcaraz marked his first start for Everton with a memorable performance, scoring a late winner to seal a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The 22-year-old, who joined the Toffees from Flamengo on deadline day, not only found the back of the net but also provided an assist in a highly impactful debut.

Alcaraz first set up Beto, who scored in first-half injury time to give Everton the lead. Then, with the match tied in the 80th minute, Alcaraz pounced on a deflected block by Will Hughes. After collecting the loose ball, he calmly slotted it through Hughes’ legs and past goalkeeper Dean Henderson to claim all three points for Everton.

The win extended Everton’s impressive run under David Moyes, with just one loss in their last 11 Premier League matches. The Toffees now sit 13th in the table, moving further away from relegation danger.

The match was an entertaining affair, with Crystal Palace appearing the stronger side for most of the first half. However, a costly error from Tyrick Mitchell in the 42nd minute allowed Alcaraz to create Beto’s opening goal. Mitchell’s throw-in, intended for Jefferson Lerma, went astray, and Alcaraz quickly capitalized by driving into Palace’s final third before assisting Beto, who finished into the bottom corner for a 1-0 lead.

Palace responded swiftly after the break. Just two minutes into the second half, a poorly defended corner from Everton allowed Marc Guehi to flick the ball to Jean-Phillipe Mateta, who tucked it past Jordan Pickford to equalize. The goal was initially under review for offside but was eventually confirmed, with no conclusive evidence to rule it out.

Crystal Palace thought they had taken the lead in the 20th minute after Lerma’s header found the top corner, but the referee ruled the goal out, citing that the ball had gone out of play before the cross. VAR upheld the decision after reviewing the footage, citing insufficient evidence to overturn the on-field call.

Palace had chances to go ahead before Beto’s opener, notably when Ismaila Sarr hit the crossbar after some excellent dribbling by Chris Richards. However, despite constant pressure, Palace couldn’t find a second goal, and Everton held firm to secure the win.

Alcaraz’s performance stood out as the Player of the Match. With Abdoulaye Doucoure and Iliman Ndiaye both absent, Alcaraz stepped up to fill a crucial role, providing both a goal and an assist in his debut start. His intelligence in the buildup to Beto’s goal and his clinical finishing for the winner showed exactly why Everton were eager to sign him.