Eberechi Eze celebrates Palace's second goal > Mathematically safe, Crystal Palace are already counting on next season, season possibly without Wilfrid Zaa. This victory over Bournemouth was a glimpse into the future. Eberechi Eze only lasted 50 minutes before limping around with a hamstring injury. He took center stage.
He had already scored Palace's first goal, created by Zaha after a team game, when Michael Olize made a majestic pass from the right. Ez stepped in, danced over some half-hearted Bournemouth challenges and delivered a delightful curler past Neto from the edge of the court.
The midfielder, whom Patrick Vieira never fully trusted, seeing Eze as a striker, became the centerpiece of Palace's rescue under Roy Hodgson. Eze, who has never been a goal machine until now, has scored six times in Hodgson's eight games and as Palace builds their midfield around him, his nascent partnership with Olise creates a new platform for a new season.
“That's what Abbs did, not the coaching staff,” Hodgson mused. “He is a dedicated student who understands what he needs to do defensively and offensively to showcase his talents. I know that Gareth Southgate keeps a close eye on our players and while I don't dream of telling him what to do, he knows where to find me.
“Both he and Michael are young players. They both need more playing time, but if they develop what they do, they can become exceptional players.” > Eberechi Eze's form shows that Palace need not be afraid of life after Wilfrid Zaha. Photo: PA/Bradley Collyer
Bournemouth was also safe, but because of the dot over the i and the crossed out letter, this is where the Premier League started to wind down. At least mentally, Bournemouth were already on the beach, and although they offered the first start in English football to Ukrainian international Ilya Zabarny, they did not create anything remarkable. “Poor performance,” admitted Gary O'Neill, Bournemouth's manager, who was celebrating his 17th wedding anniversary. 'We are far behind who we are'
Not to mention Bournemouth's incompetence, Palace could have had 10 members when Joachim Andersen escaped the censure of referee Michael Salisbury and his VAR colleagues. Andy Madeley when he broke Jefferson Lerma's nose with a right hook.
Palace, not sweating too much, seized the moment. Zaha missed a shot in front of the net when Olize made a furious cross from the right, but once Palace took the lead, there would be no resurgence for Bournemouth, and after Eze's second shot, both teams accelerated to what they each deserved.
Crystal Palace. Lineups against Bournemouth 2022-23
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