Crystal Palace lose 2-0 to BSC Young Boys – as Eagles fail to lift Uhrencup
BY SAM SMITH
Crystal Palace failed to win the Uhrencup in Switzerland, losing 2-0 to eventual victors BSC Young Boys.
The hosts went ahead after four minutes in calamitous circumstances.
Patrick van Aanholt slipped on the halfway line and Vicente Guaita raced well out of his penalty box to meet the loose ball, but he was beaten by Young Boys striker Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu who rounded the Spaniard and stroked the ball into an empty net.
Roy Hodgson’s side were extremely lethargic in the first half – evidence of the different stages of pre-season both sides currently find themselves at.
The Eagles failed to have a shot on target in the opening 40 minutes and were 2-0 down inside half an hour when Guillaume Hoarau’s shot deflected in via James McArthur.
Hoarau was denied an immediate third, seeing his header excellently tipped wide by Guaita.
Hodgson introduced Max Meyer at half-time and Palace improved. Christian Benteke had an effort saved before the German midfielder fired wide in the opening five minutes of the second period.
Jean-Pierre Nsame should then have scored a third for the Swiss Super League champions, but somehow fired high and wide after find himself free six yards from goal.
Palace eventually piled on the pressure in the final quarter of the game. Jeffrey Schlupp and Andros Townsend had dangerous efforts deflect wide before Sam Woods almost got on the end of a corner in front of goal.
Townsend had a good effort saved before Van Aanholt’s rebound hit Connor Wickham on the goal-line.
It meant the South Londoners came second in the Uhrencup table. They travel to Barnet on Tuesday night for their next pre-season match.
PICTURE BY NEIL EVERITT
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