Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough. Carabao Cup Round 3. Report and free match highlights from the Carabao Cup third round tie between Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough at Selhurst Park; Jorgen Strand Larsen scores twice as Daichi Kamada adds stunning third at Selhurst Park Jorgen Strand Larsen struck twice to propel Crystal Palace into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough at Selhurst Park. Strand Larsen nodded home in each half before substitute Daichi Kamada lobbed ‘keeper Sol Brynn for the third as Palace showed their clinical touch in a lively tie that was largely dominated by Boro.
But having named the Championship’s leading scorer Will Lankshear on the bench as both teams made eight changes, they lacked the firepower needed to capitalise on their impressive endeavour in the final third. Palace, meanwhile, were content to sit back and absorb the persistent waves of attacks before pouncing on the counter when the moment arose – the theme for all three of their goals. For that strategy to work their defence needed to be solid, but it was the opposite early on as a dithering Yeremy Pino gave the ball away, enabling the launch of a Boro attack, before ‘keeper Walter Benitez played a dangerous pass to Ben Chilwell that invited more pressure. The lively Amario Cozier-Duberry fired a shot into the arms of Benitez and after a period of facing steady pressure, Palace came to life with a slick interchange that ended with Pino having a shot blocked.
A turn and shot by David Strelec and attempt by Callum Brittain renewed the attack on the home goal but at the other end Pino was denied by a sharp save from goalkeeper Brynn. Boro continued to dictate play with Cozier-Duberry down the right their main threat and he sent another effort just wide. But despite the Championship club’s grip on the game, it was Palace who struck first through a dynamic move that saw the ball swept from left to right where Oscar Mingueza whipped in a cross for Strand Larsen to nod home. The speed of the move and accuracy of the finish caught out Boro, who at least responded to by resuming their occupation of Palace’s half – a theme that continued into the second half.
A goalmouth scramble ended with the Premier League team clearing their lines, yet once again Boro were undone by a sweeping move that saw them drift 2-0 behind against the run of play. Once more the ball was switched from side to side and this time it was Chilwell’s lofted cross that was met by the leaping Strand Larsen, who made buried the chance. Boro were still dangerous and only Benitez denied Aidan Morris’s low shot as the home defence continue to be pinned back. But their recurring nightmare one last time when they were caught on the break against with substitute Kamada choosing his moment to lift the ball over Brynn and into the net.
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