David Omilabu the hero as Crystal Palace U23s win promotion – and will face Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool next season
BY ANDREW MCSTEEN
David Omilabu scored the winning penalty in front of more than 3,000 fans inside Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace U23s confirmed promotion from Premier League 2 Division 2 with a 5-3 shootout win over Sunderland.
The Eagles will compete in Division 1 next season and face the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea.
The promotion represents a massive boost for the South London club, who are in their first season as a category one academy following extensive investment and development at their Beckenham headquarters.
In what has been a remarkable season for the academy, the U18s were denied a league title on goal difference but their top scorer Omilabu ensured there would be silverware for the new trophy cabinet down at Beckenham as he came on as a sub for the U23s with 15 minutes remaining of normal time.
The young striker had scored an extra-time winner against Wolves last Monday night at Selhurst in the play-off semi-final to set up this match and popped up again this evening, dispatching the fifth penalty for the home side to take the win after Sunderland had missed their fourth through sub Ellis Taylor.
Palace chairman Steve Parish, who has described the ongoing academy development “as the best thing in my life outside of family”, was at Selhurst along with director of football Dougie Freedman to watch Shaun Derry’s side take the win – both Derry and Freedman took penalties for Iain Dowie’s side in the Championship semi-final play-off win up at Sunderland in 2004 in the club’s promotion-winning campaign to the Premier League.
Derry and those inside saw a cagey opening with chances at a premium in front of fans in the Whitehorse Lane and Holmesdale Lower and Upper, plus guests and VIPs in the Main Stand.
The Glenn Murray-esque Rob Street had the first real chance of the game for Palace when his powerful 13th minute shot deflected out for a corner and then Jay Rich-Baghuelou’s follow-up header went over.
Sunderland eventually found their way through to the Palace goal when captain Dan Neil got into space easily from a throw and his header brought about a fingertip save from Oliver Webber in front of the Holmesdale to rapturous applause. Goalkeeper Webber would prove to be a key player for the home side throughout, making a number of important saves.
In the 33rd minute, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, on the bench for Roy Hodgson’s last game yesterday, combined well with Malachi Boateng around and the box only to see his chance tipped over by Anthony Patterson in the Sunderland goal.
Minutes later Webber was again called into action, snuffling a low-cross from Sunderland and then preventing Josh Hawkes who had cut in and unleashed a shot goalwards.
Just before the break the impressive Sion Spence started a move which eventually saw Street pick out Rak-Sakyi, but the forward could only blaze over and then it was Street’s chance to score, but, through on goal, and about to pull the trigger, a last-ditch tackle from Patrick Almond kept the score level 0-0 at the break.
Palace were left ruing their chances as the heavens opened in SE25 causing dreadful playing conditions. But this did not stop the chances coming. Street saw a deflected shot go out for a corner just after the restart and then 10 minutes into the second period a number of saves from Patterson kept his side in it.
Chances fell again to Rak-Sakyi and Patterson but the Sunderland defence held firm and the game went into extra time. Both sides had clear chances to win, but it would have been unfair to either.
With 10 minutes of extra time remaining, Webber and Jake O’Brien used all their strength to stop the Sunderland attack, and then Street again fired just over.
Both sets of players were exhausted, but the fans inside Selhurst proved to be the extra man with their vociferous support for the whole match as Street, the impressive Reece Hannam, Malachi Boateng, John-Kymani Gordon and finally Omilabu smashed their penalties home.
PICTURE: PPAUK/CPFC