Penalty pain for Eagles in Carabao Cup exit to Colchester at Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace 0 Colchester 0 (Colchester win 5-4 on penalties)
Heartbreak for Crystal Palace as they lose 5-4 on penalties to Colchester Town after the league two side put on a resilient display.
Palace’s first penalty by Townsend was palmed away by Gerken and the clinical Colchester Town players punished the Eagles by scoring five of five of their penalties.
Jordan Ayew, Christian Benteke, Victor Camarasa, and Wilfred Zaha all comfortably scored their penalties but Palace’s fate was already sealed.
In the opening stages of the game, Colchester Town gave a good account of themselves but in the second half Crystal Palace asserted dominance over possession, failing to take advantage.
Crystal Palace handed a debut to Camarasa meanwhile James McCarthy and young defender Sam Woods made their first starts for the Eagles.
Camarasa looked sharp in the first half, the Spaniard had an early shot saved and was instrumental in setting up a Christian Benteke chance.
Colchester Town had the first notable chance, defender Ryan Clampin forced Wayne Hennessey to palm his attempt back into the Palace box.
However, Palace came the closest to breaking the deadlock, on the 34th minute Andros Townsend slotted a pass through to Benteke in the box, he beat Dean Gerken but his shot come down off the crossbar and back out into safety.
Ryan Jackson had a definitive chance for Colchester, thumping a volley from outside the box which was narrowly deflected behind for a corner.
On the 54th minute Woods came close to a dream first start by marking the occasion with a goal but Gerken did well to deny him with a quick reflex save.
On the 62nd minute Wilfred Zaha was introduced and replaced Connor Wickham who had struggled to get involved in the game.
In the latter stages of the match Townsend grew into the game and looked threatening on the wing, constantly supplying crosses into the box but ultimately unable to find a receiver.
Crystal Palace will next play in the Premier League against Aston Villa on Saturday. Villa beat Crewe Alexandra 6-1 in their Carabao cup clash.
Crystal Palace
W. Hennessey, S. Woods, M. Kelly, S. Dann, A. Townsend, J. McCarthy, V. Camarasa, J.Riedewald, M. Meyer, C. Wickham, C. Benteke (Subs) G.Cahill, W.Zaha, J.Ayew
Colchester Town
D. Gerken R.Jackson, T. Eastman, L. Prosser, R. Clampin, C. Senior, B.Comley, B. Stevenson, L.Gambin, F. Nouble, L. Norris (Subs) J.Brown, P.Cowan-Hall, N.Chilvers
