Crystal Palace narrowly avoided a major Carabao Cup upset on Tuesday night, requiring a penalty shootout to see off a stubborn and spirited Millwall side after a 1-1 draw in a fiercely contested London derby at Selhurst Park.
The Premier League outfit were pushed to the absolute limit by their Championship neighbours, who more than held their own throughout a physical and entertaining encounter. It was a tale of two halves, with the second-tier side taking a surprise lead before the Eagles fought back to force penalties.
Zian Flemming Stuns Selhurst Park
The Championship side drew first blood against the run of play. A swift counter-attack just after the half-hour mark caught the Palace defence napping. The ball fell to Dutch midfielder Zian Flemming on the edge of the area, and he made no mistake, unleashing a powerful, low drive that flew past Dean Henderson to send the travelling Millwall fans into delirium.
The goal seemed to shock Oliver Glasner's men, who struggled to break down a well-organised and disciplined Millwall defence for the remainder of the first half.
Mateta Answers Palace's Prayers
The introduction of Jean-Philippe Mateta at the break proved to be a masterstroke from Glasner. The French striker injected much-needed urgency into Palace's attack.
The pressure finally told in the 67th minute. A dangerous cross into the box wasn't dealt with convincingly by the Millwall defence, and Mateta was perfectly positioned to pounce, smashing the ball home from close range to level the score and restore a sense of order for the top-flight side.
Despite sustained pressure from the Eagles, including a few nervy moments for Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic, the visitors held firm to take the tie straight to a penalty shootout.
Henderson the Hero in Shootout Drama
Dean Henderson emerged as the hero for Crystal Palace, making two crucial saves in the penalty shootout to send his team through to the fourth round.
After both teams converted their first two spot-kicks, Henderson dived low to his left to deny Millwall's captain, Jake Cooper. The pressure was immense, but every Palace player kept their composure from 12 yards. Henderson then sealed the victory with another fantastic save from Romain Esse's effort, sparking celebrations of relief around Selhurst Park.
The victory ensures Palace's progress in the competition, but Millwall's courageous performance will give them immense confidence for their Championship campaign, having more than matched their Premier League opponents for large periods of the game.
