Crystal Palace faced a frustrating goalless draw against Sunderland at Selhurst Park on Saturday, marking a significant moment for Yeremy Pino, who made his full debut for the Eagles. Pino was handed his first start with manager Oliver Glasner making two other changes to the starting XI. He more than lived up to his early promise, but the hosts were unable to get the win they needed.
The game played out just how it sounds, with Crystal Palace controlling possession but failing to take opportunities that came their way. Their remarkable keeper, Robin Roefs, was undoubtedly the Player of the Match, saving six shots from point-blank range. Unfortunately for the Eagles, they were unable to break through. With Adam Wharton and Ismaila Sarr both sidelined with injuries, an opening has been created for Pino. He took the ball and went to town with it, producing a slew of incredible appearances.
Pino’s Debut Highlights
Yeremy Pino earned his first cap with a dangerous first-half opportunity. In a perfect world this would have led to a one-on-one situation, but alas, we were denied a goal-scoring opportunity. This chance, though not converted, is likely to remain in his memory as a pivotal moment of his early career at Crystal Palace. Pino scored an absolutely amazing goal in the second half. He notched a beautiful, classic drop of the shoulder, bursting into space beyond a flummoxed Granit Xhaka. His follow-up delivery to Jean-Philippe Mateta was off the mark, failing to create a dangerous chance.
The young Spaniard’s introduction injected energy into the team and offered flashes of creativity, particularly when Daichi Kamada poked the ball into his path. This moment nearly granted Pino the dream debut as chief. It underscored his ongoing potential to make a big difference when he did step on the field.
“I think especially at the end, we deserved to win the game, but Sunderland had a great goalkeeper today who had three, four incredible saves.” – Oliver Glasner
Sunderland’s Resilience
Sunderland showed remarkable resistance over the course of the physical game to claim a hard-fought point against the overwhelming pressure by the Crystal Palace attackers. The Black Cats, buoyed by their solid start to the season, have shown that they can compete effectively in the Premier League. Their defensive unit and heroics by Roefs stymied Palace and ensured they continued their unbeaten streak.
Head Coach Oliver Glasner recognized the challenge Sunderland posed coming in, noting that they were expecting a tough match-up. The Eagles had more quality opportunities than their opponents. They had a difficult time converting those chances into goals. Glasner noted that “60 percent” of Crystal Palace’s goals from last season were missing during this match, highlighting the team’s ongoing difficulty in the final third.
“Every game is a unique challenge. And this game against Crystal Palace away, we knew before that it was probably the toughest challenge from the beginning of the season.” – Oliver Glasner
Struggles in Final Third
Crystal Palace largely controlled possession while creating a number of their own threatening chances. Their lack of finishing in the final third proved disastrous. On other occasions the team’s attacking play disintegrated leading to opportunities squandered. Each of these missed opportunities would have made a decisive difference in the outcome of the game. The frustration, not just of players but of fans as well, was evident as they watched chance after chance go uncapped.
Pino’s performance was one of the darkest spots in an otherwise challenging afternoon for Palace. Perhaps his burgeoning ability to connect play and find space will give narrative weight to his growing importance as the season wears on. Yet, he’ll require help from his teammates to change personal feats of brilliance into accomplishments for his team.
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