Crystal Palace 4 Leeds United 1 – Crystal Palace hand Leeds United’s 1-4 defeat; Eberechi Eze excels Updated for January 2025

Updated: 11 February

2020-21 English Premier League match report – Crystal Palace v Leeds United – Selhurst Park – Saturday, November 7, 2020

Crystal Palace 4 Leeds United 1 Match Report

Following a 1-4 loss a home last week to Leicester City, Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United were dealt another defeat by a similar margin to Crystal Palace away at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening.

Center-back Scot Dann got his first goal of the season as he rose to head one in past Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier from a Eberechi Eze corner to put the hosts one-up in the 12th minute.

Eze and Jordan Ayew handed starts by Palace boss Roy Hodgson along with James McArthur in place of suspended captain Luka Milivojevic, combined well to direct the hosts' attacks as Patrick Van Aanholt forced a fine save from Illan Meslier.

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Eze's influence on the game grew as the English youth international showed his prowess both in offense and defense and especially in set-pieces.

Top scorer for the Whites, Patrick Bamford, had a chance to equalize after Palace's first goal but the striker's finish over rival custodian Vicente Guaita was ruled out by VAR as his outstretched arm was found to be in an offside position before he took the shot.

But Bamford was quickly onto the scoresheet in the 27th minute as he reduced the deficit by thrashing one in after being set up through midfielder Mateusz Klich's headed pass.

Leeds came hard at the Eagles after the Bamford goal but the hosts were in for some good fortune when Wilfried Zaha's low cross was deflected in by Helder Costa's sliding tackle for an own goal to make it 3-1 for Palace three minutes before the interval.

Leeds went all out to reduce the deficit in the second-half as Pascal Struijk headed narrowly wide and Ezgjan Alioski's shot was dealt with well by Guaita.

Despite all their endeavours, the game was put beyond the visitors' reach in the 70th minute.

Palace ace Zaha, quiet for most of the game, was involved in his side's fourth of the evening as he cut past the Leeds' defense and slipped one to Ayew who made no mistake in finishing his shot underneath Meslier.

There was a last-gasp attempt from the visitors as Bamford headed wide with the game drifting away from their grasp.

Roy Hodgson's side have momentarily moved in to the Top half after their fourth win of the season while Leeds slipped a few notches below to a lowly 15th after the Selhurst Park loss.

Crystal Palace starting XI:

Guaita (goal), Clyne, Kouyate, Dann, Van Aanholt, Townsend, Riedewald, McArthur, Eze, Ayew, Zaha).

Subs: Schlupp, Benteke, McCarthy.

Leeds starting XI:

Meslier (goal), Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Alioski, Struijk, Helder Costa, Klich, Dallas, Harrison, Bamford.

Subs: Roberts, Raphinha

Man of the match: Eberechi Eze.

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