Crystal Palace beat Wolves in pre-season clash – with 18-year-old winger netting

Crystal Palace secured a 3-1 pre-season win over Wolves in Maryland in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Goals from Jeffrey Schlupp, Jordan Ayew and 18-year-old Asher Agbinone gave Oliver Glasner’s side the win at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Palace named a strong starting 11 against Gary O’Neil’s side. 

England Euro 2024 finalists Adam Wharton and Dean Henderson started the game, with summer signings Daichi Kamada and Chadi Riad both included in the first half 11.

Schlupp gave Palace the lead in the 34th minute when he capitalised on a clearance from Dan Bentley to sweep home an effort from distance into the empty net.

Ayew, who is wanted by Leicester City, doubled Palace’s lead four minutes into the start of the second half when he collected Henderson’s long clearance. The Ghanaian international brought the ball down inside the area and slotted beyond ex-Palace youngster Tom King.

Wolves pulled one back in the 90th minute when Santiago Bueno reacted quickly inside the area to score.

Agbinone wrapped up the win when Ayew played the academy winger through inside the penalty area. He cut back onto his right foot and scored past King to seal the victory.

Glasner’s side face West Ham at midnight on Sunday in Tampa.

“[It was] a very good result for us and we got a lot of information about the level we are playing at the moment,” the Palace boss told Palace TV.

“We struggled in some situations, we can see what we have to improve, but we can also see a lot of positive things. We are always able to score goals, we can create chances.

“We have 20 on-field players today on the pitch. I think six from our academy did brilliantly in the second-half. We were playing with a lot of energy and that is what I really enjoyed today.

“We had a good spirit from the first minute until the end of the game. It was a very good test for us.”