WILFUL Zaha just cannot
A WILFRIED ZAHA masterclass helped Crystal Palace to a barnstorming first win of the season.
The Eagles were not kindly treated by the fixture computer, with opening matches against Arsenal and Liverpool.
But they emphatically put away a poor Aston Villa in a come-frombehind win – with Zaha adding a rebound strike after a Var-awarded penalty to a magnificent solo goal.
Sub Jean-philippe Mateta sealed the victory. Much earlier Ollie Watkins had put Villa ahead – but it could have been even worse for Steven Gerrard’s team with a Jeffrey Schlupp ‘goal’ ruled out by VAR for the tightest of offsides.
Only Harry Kane and Heung-min Son have now scored more goals in 2022 than Villa tormentor-inchief Zaha, who has 11 to his name.
In an explosive start the visitors took the lead in just the fifth minute with a route-one goal.
Tyrone Mings launched a long ball and Watkins collected Leon Bailey’s clever header to coolly place the ball past Vicente Guaita.
But that lead lasted barely two minutes, with Zaha hauling his side level with an even better goal.
Odsonne Edouard flicked Cheick Doucoure’s pass on and, running 35 yards from just inside the Villa half, Zaha drifted clear of Ezri Konsa before finding the corner.
Matty Cash was struggling to shackle Zaha and conceded a free-kick on the Palace left.
Ebere Eze picked out Edouard and his delayed cross was smartly fired home by Schlupp after a deft first touch. However VAR official John Brooks told referee Andy Madley to rule the ‘goal’ out.
Villa skipper John Mcginn could easily have received two yellow cards for fouls in the same Palace move allowed to flow by Madley, but escaped with just one.
Zaha followed Mcginn into the book for a late challenge on the Scotland midfielder.
In the second half, there was more VAR drama to come. Marc Guehi’s header from Eze’s corner flicked Lucas Digne’s hand before being saved by Emi Martinez.
Madley was called over to the TV screen and gave the penalty. Zaha’s first effort was saved by Martinez but the forward tucked away the rebound.
And sub Mateta scored with his first touch in the 71st minute, volleying in Tyrick Mitchell’s excellent cross.