Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson looked on happy as his charges took a comfortable 6-1 victory over Halmstads BK in yesterday’s pre-season friendly.
Hodgson had made seven changes to the starting line up from Thursday night’s win as we closed out our tour of Scandinavia but it didn’t take the boys long to get going at all at the Orjans Vall Stadium.
It was a good visit for Hodgson on a number of levels as ahead of kick-off he was inducted into the Halmstad Hall of Fame and received a standing ovation from a crowd that included former players and national coach Janne Andersson.
There two pieces of bad news from the night though, Wilfried Zaha headed back to London for a family matter so hopefully, that’s not too serious although some fans are thinking the worst about transfers. Christian Benteke also picked up an injury early on in the first half so we’ll have to see whether it’s anything long-term or just a knock.
On to the game, it took Palace only 13 minutes to open the scoring as Benteke found the net but the hosts levelled four minutes. Benteke was then replaced by Sullay Kaikai following his knock and we had to wait until minute 38 before Patrick van Aanholt restored our advantage. Two minutes later he made it three and helped himself to a brace and two minutes after that Kaikai got himself on the scoresheet.
4-1 at the halftime break and there was still more to come.
Minute 61 saw James McArthur add our fifth, and the scoring was complete within one minute of Jason Puncheon coming on the pitch as he made it 6-1.
Palace:
Hennessey, Wan-Bissaka (Ward 65), Tomkins (Kelly 71), Sakho (Jach 71), Van Aanholt (Souare 65), Townsend (Lokilo 71), McArthur (Williams 71), Riedewald, Schlupp (Puncheon 65), Sorloth, Benteke (Kaikai 18).
Subs:
Speroni, Ward, Kelly, Souare, Jach, Puncheon, Lokilo, Williams, Kaikai.
Goals – Benteke (13), Van Aanholt (38, 40), Kaikai (42), McArthur (61), Puncheon (66).
🎉 Great work from birthday boy @andros_townsend and a tidy finish from @chrisbenteke! 💥
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— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) July 16, 2018
🎯 @pvanaanholt!
You watching @OfficialFPL? 😏
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— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) July 16, 2018
ANOTHER ONE!
💥 It's @pvanaanholt's right foot this time. 💥
Tune in to the second half live on the official #CPFC 🦅 app or https://t.co/TTogt6KZzQ! 📱💻 pic.twitter.com/VFv7DpAE4x
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) July 16, 2018
What a hit @SullayKaikai! 👌
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Download it here…
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Android: https://t.co/0CNmywRca4 pic.twitter.com/4YSZ9grPO1— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) July 16, 2018
Glorious finish from Macca! 🤤
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— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) July 16, 2018
Welcome back Punch! 🙌
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— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) July 16, 2018
Not a bad way to finish eh!