- Crystal Palace U18s face Manchester United
- Several youngsters set to shine
- Eagles can win cup
Crystal Palace U18s host Manchester United in the U18 Premier League Cup final tonight (April 22nd) and they will be hoping to write their name in the club’s history books. Javier Alonso’s Eagles are also eyeing revenge.
That’s because the two sides last met just last Friday in the FA Youth Cup semi-finals. Palace unfortunately tasted a 2-1 defeat after extra time.
JJ Gabriel gave the hosts the lead, but Raihaan Anderson capitalised on a poor piece of goalkeeping to equalise and send the game to extra-time. It wasn’t to be for Alonso’s side as Chido Obi netted a winner to prevent the South Londoners from meeting Manchester City in the final.
Crystal Palace vs Man United PL Cup Final – How to Watch
For Palace fans keen to watch the final, they can tune in to Palace TV+; coverage is set to start at 18:45 BST, with kick-off at 19:00 BST. Those without a subscription can sign up and choose one of three packages.
An Annual pass is £37.99, a Monthly pass is £5.49, and a Weekly pass is £3.99. Highlights of the game and full match reaction will be available on Palace TV+ after full-time.
| Date: | Wednesday (April 22nd) |
| Kick-off time: | 19:00 BST |
| Location: | Selhurst Park |
| Match: | U18 Premier League Cup Final |
| Broadcast: | Palace TV+ |
Ones to Watch
There’s no team news released as of midday, but five youngsters seem set to start. Lucca Benetton is likely to continue between the sticks and he’s enjoying a superb season.
Benetton has appeared nine times in the U18 Premier League, keeping two clean sheets. That includes a 5-0 win over Birmingham City and a 0-0 draw against Brighton.
Dean Benamar is expected to be chosen at full-back amid an impressive run of form that has earned plaudits. The versatile left-back has made seven times in Premier League 2, scoring two goals.
The 17-year-old earned a senior debut in Palace’s 2-2 draw against Kuopion Palloseura in their UEFA Conference League opener. He played 63 minutes and certainly impressed.
Charlie Walker-Smith has been a mainstay in defence and he seems set to continue. The 18-year-old centre-back has been just as important at the back as he has going forward, scoring four goals in 14 league games.
Not much needs to be said about Joel Drakes-Thomas who is probably the most exciting prospect in Javier Alonso’s team. The 16-year-old already has four senior appearances to his name and has come up with one goal and two assists in three Premier League 2 outings.
Benji Casey scored in the defeat to United last week and he’ll likely the lead the line tonight. The 18-year-old’s future is uncertain but he’s been prolific with an astonishing record of 12 goals in 11 league games.
Javier Alonso: I’m Proud
Alonso will be taking charge of the club’s first-ever U18 Premier League Cup final tonight. It’s a big moment for the Spaniard who has been coaching the youth team since June.
The Eagles’ U18 boss served as Diego Simeone’s assistant at Atletico Madrid so he knows all about handling the pressure of high-stakes games. He spoke highly of his players ahead of tonight’s final (via club website):
“Yes, I think we are excited to play the final. The Premier League Under-18 Cup final at Selhurst Park – it’s a big moment for us. At the moment, the boys are doing really well. The season has been very good and I’m proud of them. We have the final in a few days and I’m happy to be there. I think we deserve it.“
He added:
“We’ve played well, we’ve beaten strong teams, and I’m excited to play at Selhurst Park with our supporters.”
Alonso has overseen 27 games since arriving last summer, winning 16 and losing eight. He insisted that the fans will be important tonight but so too might his experience from his days at Atleti.
