U18 Report: Crystal Palace 3-2 Saints

By SFC Media time Sun 18 Sep Crystal Palace vs Saints
Photo by Isabelle Field
Sat 17 Sep 11AM
U18 Premier League
Crystal Palace
3
Southampton
2
Dixon [8'] Socoliche [21'] [67']
goal
Charles [13'] Trialist [17']
Venue: Crystal Palace Training Ground | Attendance: 0

Southampton Under-18s fell to a 3-2 defeat at Crystal Palace on Saturday in an entertaining and highly charged U18 Premier League affair in South London.

Saints moved into a 2-1 lead in the first-half after goals from Brandon Charles and an unnamed trialist, but were pegged back by the interval.

A red card for the hosts meant plenty of pressure from the visitors in the second period, but they were to leave empty handed after Basilio Rieno Socoliche’s winner, with full-time frustrations leading to Sonnie Davis being dismissed after the final whistle.

Saints ventured forward in the early stages, but to no avail. Palace then took the lead with their first attack when striker Junior Dixon calmly dispatched a penalty eight minutes in.

The Hampshire outfit were back on level terms just four minutes later though.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 03: Southampton players during the U18 Premier League Cup match between Southampton U18s and Chelsea at Staplewood Training Ground on September 03, 2021 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Isabelle Field/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Saints were looking to back to winning ways in the U18 Premier League.

Davis’ long-range free-kick proved difficult for Palace goalkeeper Jackson Izquierdo to handle and Brandon Charles was on hand to head home the loose ball from the parry out.

Having then gained some momentum from their equaliser, Saints took the lead. The ball was played back to the unnamed trialist and his superb effort from range found the net via the post.

The scoring in a lively first-half was not finished there though. Palace were soon back level when Socoliche moved into the box on the right and found the top corner with a rising shot across goal.

The quick reply from the hosts did not stop Saints from looking forward positively though. Will Merry saw two good opportunities well blocked by Palace defenders and goalkeeper Izquierdo, whilst the  trialist drove a fierce effort wide and into the side-netting.

The home side were dealt a blow shortly before the half-time interval when Hindolo Mustapha was sent off for dissent.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13: during the U18PL match between Southampton and Aston Villa, at the Staplewood Campus, on August 13, 2022 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Craig Hobbs/Southampton FC)
Sonnie Davis in action.

A bright start to the second period saw Saints searching for the lead again. A strong run from the trialist ended with his low shot being diverted away from goal by the fingertips of Palace’s Izquierdo, and Merry then saw his resulting rebound blocked close to goal.

After a period of little action in the game though, Palace hit Saints on the break. A low cross from left was finished emphatically into the roof of the net by winger Socoliche, who had been the hosts’ main attacking outlet throughout.

Despite late pressure from Mikey Harris's side as they tried to find the elusive equaliser, Palace held on to their win with a structured defence.

With strong emotions on show throughout, defender Davis was sent off after the final whistle to round off a frustrating day in the capital.

Crystal Palace

1
Jackson Izquierdo (GK)
2
Caleb Kporha
3
Vontte Williams
4
Freddie Bell (C)
5
Jake Grante
6
Eyimofe Jemide
7
Adler Nascimento
8
Joseph Gibbard yellow card
9
Junior Dixon yellow card goal
replace Asher Agbinane (86′)
10
Hindolo Mustapha red card
11
Basilio Rieno Socoliche goal goal
replace Cormac Austin (90′) yellow card
13
William Eastwood
12
Rio Cardines
14
Asher Agbinane
15
Cormac Austin
16
Kalani Barton

Southampton

1
Adli Mohamed (GK)
2
Sonnie Davis red card
3
Joshua Lett
4
Nathaniel Boot
5
Tommy Dobson-Ventura
6
Joshua Squires (C)
replace Ryan Chavez-Munoz (80′)
7
Will Merry
8
Alex Iwumeme
replace Joe Andrews (80′)
9
Trialist
replace Tommy-Lee Higgs (70′)
10
Tyler Dibling
11
Brandon Charles
13
Dylan Moody
12
Jay Robinson
14
Tommy-Lee Higgs
15
Joe Andrews
16
Ryan Chavez-Munoz
U18 Highlights: Crystal Palace 3-2 Saints video03:36
video
Crystal Palace vs Saints

U18 Highlights: Crystal Palace 3-2 Saints

U18 Preview: Crystal Palace vs Saints
Saints pair set for ePremier League Grand Finals
ePremier League

Saints pair set for ePremier League Grand Finals

The 2022/23 tournament takes place this weekend

time1 hour ago
Happy Birthday, Terry Paine! Bournemouth tickets on sale to supporters with MySaints account