Southampton 1-2 Crystal Palace: Zaha nets late winner for The Eagles

Crystal Palace came from behind to take all three points with them back to South London.

It’s another case of dropped points from a winning position for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton.

Saints took an early lead when Oriol Romeu thundered home a header from a James Ward-Prowse corner.

After a bright start for Southampton, Crystal Palace grew stronger for the rest of this Premier League clash.

Patrick Vieira’s Palace dominated possession in the latter part of the first half and that continued in the game’s second stanza.

That control of play paid off when Ebere Eze scored his first goal of the season after long injury layoff to equalise - steering home a cross from former Southampton man Nathaniel Clyne.

Wilfried Zaha was the difference maker, though.

Palace’s attacking talisman started the game on the bench but came onto the pitch to devastating effect.

As the game entered stoppage time at 1-1, Zaha created a chance out of nothing, firing a low strike on the turn that went beyond Saints defender Jan Bednarek and goalkeeper Fraser Forster, bouncing in the net off the post.

Southampton reached the Premier League milestone of 40 points last weekend and appear to be limping to the finish line as the season’s end draws closer.

Southampton (4-4-2): Forster; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Salisu, Perraud; Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Tella (Elyounoussi 80’); Long (Broja 65’), Adams (S. Armstrong 65’)

Unused subs: Caballero, Lyanco, A. Armstrong, Valery, Djenepo, Smallbone

Goals: Romeu (9’)

Bookings: Bednarek

Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Guaita; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Ward; Gallagher, McArthur, Schlupp (Olise 74’); Ayew, Mateta (Zaha 64’), Eze (Hughes 84’)

Unused subs: Butland, Mitchell, Tomkins, Kouyate, Benteke, Edouard

Goals: Eze (60’), Zaha (90’ +2)

Bookings: Ward, McArthur, Mateta