Crystal Palace was undoubtedly the dominant force for most of the final hour against Norwich.
The Canaries put up a spirited defence of their area and continued to look like a team transformed from the listless side, which ended 2021 doomed to demotion.
Much of the attention will fall, though, on two significant moments involving the Eagles’ returning hero, Zaha.
Following a magnificent second-half equaliser with an awful penalty kick soon after, the Ivorian international could not help his side secure maximum points but will ensure that this game lasts long in the memory – both for good and bad.
Starting Lineup:
NORWICH CITY (4-4-2): Angus Gunn;
Max Aarons, Ben Gibson, Grant Hanley, Brandon Williams;
Przemyslaw Placheta, Kenny McLean, Pierre Lees-Melou, Milot Rashica;
Adam Idah, Teemu Pukki.
SUBS: Michael McGovern, Christos Tzolis, Kieran Dowell, Sam Byram,
Jon Rowe, Billy Gilmour, Mathias Normann, Christoph Zimmermann, Dimitrios Giannoulis.
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Vicente Guaita;
Joel Ward, Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell;
Conor Gallagher, Will Hughes, Jeffrey Schlupp;
Michael Olise, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Wilfried Zaha.
SUBS: Jack Butland, Jordan Ayew, Christian Benteke, Luka Milivojevic,
Nathaniel Clyne, Odsonne Edouard, James McArthur, Eberechi Eze, James Tomkins.
Goals:
1-0. Norwich was off to a Flyer. After an excellent by Rashica, young Idah neatly lays the ball off to his Norwich strike partner Pukki, who places the ball into the back of the net. After less than a minute.
2-0. Zaha scores the equaliser! Olise switches play to the left, and with Placheta backing off, Zaha drops his shoulder and unfurls an unstoppable strike into the far right corner of the goal. Gunn had no chance.
What lies ahead for Norwich and Crystal Palace?
While Palace – who have now lost only two of their last 21 league meetings with Norwich – will make the short trip to local rivals Brentford at the weekend.
The Canaries continue their quest for survival with another home fixture: versus runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City.
Likewise, for more football news like this, click here.
