EZE PICKINGS
Midfielder making late bid for Qatar with fine form
EBERECHI EZE might just be nudging his way into Gareth Southgate’s World Cup plans at this rate.
Two goals in his last three games could well have seen the tricky Crystal Palace schemer hit form at just the right time, with England coach Southgate due to put in his initial list to Fifa for Qatar on Friday.
The 24-year-old was due to be on England’s standby list for the European Championship in May last year. But on the same day he ruptured his Achilles tendon, scuppering his chances of making the tournament and keeping him out of action until November. The ex-QPR man is yet to make his senior bow after eight Under-21 caps, but Palace manager Patrick Vieira this week called for his man to be given his chance – and last night Eze staked his case.
He was Palace’s standout player on a bitty evening that saw them fall behind to Adama Traore’s goal, but fight back gamely to level with Eze’s header, and then snatch the three points through Wilfried Zaha. Wolves are still looking for a new manager, with former Ajax boss Peter Bosz in talks – and they need to do something fast.
When Ruben Neves sent 20-year-old debutant Hugo Bueno clear, his accurate cross found Traore all alone at the back post to nod in his first league goal since January.
Steve Davis’ side should actually have been two up in first-half injury time though, when Traore burst through and was brought down – and Neves dipped his freekick over the wall, only to see it hit the post, with Guaita helpless.
Vieira’s words at half-time clearly had an effect though, and a minute into the second half Michael Olise crossed, Nelson Semedo missed the ball, and Eze at the far post headed home.
It was Eze who unlocked their deference again, as his through ball found Edouard, who slipped in Zaha to fire home.
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Guaita 7; Ward 7, Andersen 7, Guehi 7, Mitchell 6; Eze 8 (Riedewald 89), Doucoure 7, Schlupp 7; Zaha 7, Edouard 7 (Mateta 79 6), Olise 7 Ayew 79 6). Goals: Eze 47, Zaha 70. WOLVES (4-3-3): Sa 6; Semedo 6, Kilman 7, Collins 6, Bueno 7; Nunes 6 (Hodge 57 6), Neves 7, B Traore 6 (Moutinho 57 6) ; A Traore 7 (Guedes 57 6), Costa 6 (Hwang 74 6), Podence 7. Goal: Traore 31.