Crystal Palace secured a notable 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup, advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2011-12 season. Daichi Kamada, who came off the bench, scored the decisive goal in the 64th minute after capitalizing on a poor pass from Diego Carlos. Kamada fired a powerful low shot from the edge of the area, putting Palace back in the lead.
Eberechi Eze had opened the scoring for the Eagles with a well-placed header, connecting with Daniel Munoz’s cross. However, Villa equalized through Jhon Duran, who found the bottom corner despite Palace’s debut goalkeeper Matt Turner getting a hand to the shot.
While the win marks a significant achievement for Palace, it came with concerns over injuries to key players Eze and Adam Wharton, both of whom had to leave the field in the first half. Kamada, stepping in for Eze, made an immediate impact but also missed a couple of opportunities to extend the lead, including a rebound from a free-kick that he fired over the bar.
Despite Villa dominating possession with 62% and registering nine shots on target, Palace’s defense remained solid, weathering the storm. Turner made crucial saves, including a significant one from Duran’s early strike, which kept Palace ahead. With this victory, Crystal Palace continues to build momentum after their weekend win against Tottenham, marking their second consecutive win this season. They will face Arsenal in the next round, scheduled for the week commencing December 16.
