CRYSTAL PALACE 0 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 3
Ward (23) og, Mounie (26, 78)
HUDDERSFIELD made a dream start to their first ever Premier League season with a convincing victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Widely dismissed as relegation contenders before they had even kicked a ball, the Terriers produced an energetic display to outclass their hosts and earn three vital points.
Their season may yet descend into a battle for survival, but after Joel Ward’s own-goal, two fine finishes from club-record signing Steve Mounie gave David Wagner and his team significant reason to believe they may yet be capable of more.
Palace fans started the season with renewed optimism amid Frank de Boer’s appointment as manager, but in his first competitive game they showed little in the way of a threat.
After a poor opening period, it was the visitors who first threatened. From Aaron Mooy’s 23 rd-minute corner, Christopher Schindler flicked on towards Mathias Jorgensen, whose unconvincing cross was then poorly turned in by Ward to give Huddersfield the lead.
The hosts’ confidence suffered, and it took only a further three minutes for them to concede a second as Mooy sent an accurate cross into Palace’s area, and Mounie dispatched with glee.
Only a last-g asp, sliding tackle from Ward prevented Tom Ince from putting Huddersfield 3-0 up after the forward was through one-on-one with Wayne Hennessey, while Palace offered no response before half-time.
In a positive change de Boer took advantage of the break to sacrifice Luka Mi livojevicf or Andros Townsend, but so flat had his team been that at 2-0 down that far from represented a risk.
Townsend combined well with Ruben LoftusCheek to send a low cross towards Benteke, but the ball was just out of the striker’s reach.
A well-timed pass from Ince sent Mounie in on goal against Hennessey, but when the striker hesitated, similarly to Ward, another of Palace’s debutants Timothy FosuMensah won the ball.
When Scott Dann wasted another chance by shooting over the crossbar, even a draw appeared beyond Palace, but there was still time for the 22-year-old Mounie to score his team’s third.
In the 79th minute, substitute Collin Quaner broke and squared to the striker on the edge of the area, from where he classily finished inside the right post to further reward a fine debut display.