Cape Town – Crystal Palace romped to a 4-0 victory over SuperSport United in their pre-season Cape Town Cup friendly in the Mother City on Friday.
In a particularly poor first-half where SuperSport conceded the four goals, there was a bewildered look to the South African representatives who were struggling to find their feet.
Crystal Palace were by far the more polished outfit, and Mile Jedina opened the scoring as early as the third minute from his team’s first attacking set-piece as SuperSport United failed to clear the initial shot at goal.
Goalkeeper Rowan Williams stood amazed as the ball went past the gap that was left between himself and the defender at the near post.
For Williams, that was but the start of what turned out to be a very long evening in goal.
In the 16th minute he would watch as another series of lacklustre defending allowed Lee Chung-Yong to double the score.
The striker also had an earlier opportunity to score from a poor goal clearance by Williams, but on that occasion the striker was unable to get the pass away.
United eventually managed to string a few passes together, but never really managed to threaten the Palace goal.
Instead, after another 10 minute interval, Jordon Mutch netted the third of the evening in what could have been one of the easier goals he has scored in his career.
For the fourth first-half goal palace needed only six-minutes to beat Williams.
This time Fraizer Campbell sneaked in front of Bongani Khumalo to tap in what looked like a goal one would score in training.
Down 4-0 at the break Gordon Igesund’s men looked far more focused during the opening passage of play in the second half.
Subsequently they enjoyed their first real chance four minutes into the second 40, but Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey had it covered.
Hennessey was again tested in the 55th minute in what turned out to be United’s best passage of attacking play, but he did well to stop Jeremy Brockie’s left-footed blast from just outside the six-yard box.
Apart front the greater sense of urgency the local side showed on attack, their defence also looked far more organised with Khumalo finally making use of his international experience with some telling tackles.
With most of the damage done in the first half, both sides used the remainder of the friendly match to test out a few combinations.
The inclusion of Grant Kekana in defence during the second-half made a world of difference to the organisation United lacked in the first half.
This improved structure would have been what Palace wanted from their pre-season training match although they are unlikely to complain about the first half target practice.
United would create a few more chances during the closing exchanges, but nothing that Hennesey could not handle.
ANA