Football Dreams: The Academy follows a group of eight-to-18-year-olds at club’s Academy. The series shows a range of real and raw stories of a cast of boys and their families, from a variety of backgrounds, who all dream of making the Crystal Palace first-team.

Football Dreams: The Academy

## The Big Dane

> Joachim Andersen has become one of the Premier League's standout ball-playing centre-backs since arriving at Selhurst Park in 2021.

The 25-year old signed for Crystal Palace in July 2021 on a five-year deal, just weeks after competing in the semi-final of the European Championships at Wembley.

He arrived at Selhurst Park from Lyon, after impressing during a season-long loan deal to Fulham last season.

After beginning his career in his native Denmark, he made his professional bow with Dutch side F.C. Twente, sufficiently impressing to be named the Danish Football Association's Under-19s Talent of the Year.

A move to Serie A followed with Sampdoria, where he became a regular and began to attract the attention of some of Europe's leading clubs.

Andersen joined Lyon in the summer of 2019, becoming the club's record signing and the most expensive Danish player of all time.

A crucial performer in their European run, he was part of the squad that knocked out Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals, before losing to eventual winners Bayern Munich.

After a series of strong performances at Craven Cottage on a season-long loan spell at Fulham - including captaining the side - Andersen was called up to the national squad for the delayed Euro 2020 tournament.

He made three appearances as Denmark reached the semi-finals, coming on as a substitute in the semi-final defeat to England at Wembley.

A confident ball-playing defender, he combines aerial dominance with calmness in possession, as well as his trademark cross-field diagonal passing.

He scored his first Palace goal away at the Etihad in late 2022.

September 2023

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

Crystal Palace Goal of the Month

Danish Football Association, 2015

U19 Talent of the Year

Andersen

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Ebs and Joa talk through hard fought win

Joachim Andersen Interview

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Joachim Andersen Inteview

Joachim Andersen wins September Goal of the Month

Access all over | Manchester United 0-1 Crystal Palace

Joachim Andersen reacts to award win | POTM

Goal of the Month Contenders September 2023

Extended Highlights: Man Utd 0-1 Crystal Palace | Palace TV+

The Full 90: Man Utd v Crystal Palace | Palace TV+

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Match Action: Man Utd 0-1 Crystal Palace

Joachim Andersen interview

Extended Highlights: Brentford 1-1 Crystal Palace | Palace TV+

Match Action: Brentford 1-1 Crystal Palace  

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### Summary:

- Four changes for Palace in bid to reach back-to-back International Cup finals
- Grehan, Ozoh, Umeh and Rak-Sakyi all start; Williams, Watson, Rodney and Mathurin move to bench
- Clear openings for Everton early on but Kouyate & Hunt both mis-kick
- Metcalfe draws fine save from Whitworth moments later
- Palace’s Trialist off-target when through on goal as tie begins to open up
- Imray effort deflected narrowly wide as Palace press for breakthrough
- No. 2 then flashes effort across goal after collecting from Rak-Sakyi
- Umeh strokes home to give Palace the lead on the stroke of half-time
- **HT: Palace 1-0 Everton**
- Rodney and Mathurin replace Ozoh and Rak-Sakyi at half-time
- Trialist slams home within minutes of the restart to double Palace’s lead
- Fine solo run from Mathurin draws low save from Crellin
- Toffees pull one back on the hour as low cross from Metcalfe flies all the way in
- Trialist denied immediately afterwards from close range by fine Crellin block
- Imray crashes home a third from tight angle after Devenny’s clever reverse ball
- Whitworth denies Kouyate and Metcalfe with superb late saves
- Metcalfe penalty for Everton creeps into the corner to set up tense finale
- Devenny dispatches injury-time counter-attack to seal Palace's progression
- **FT: Palace 4-2 Everton**

Premier League International Cup Highlights: Crystal Palace 4-2 Everton

With reigning champions PSV Eindhoven having already qualified for the final, Palace were hoping to set-up back-to-back finals in the competition against the Dutch outfit – and maybe even claim a measure of revenge for last year’s extra-time defeat.

Darren Powell’s side were bolstered by the availability of first-team regulars David Ozoh, on the bench for the weekend’s win at Anfield, and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who was enjoying his first match minutes since featuring briefly for the Under-21s in early February.

Also joining the starting line-up was defender Sean Grehan, his first appearance since returning from his loan at Carlisle; and Franco Umeh, who recently made his non-competitive first-team bow against Bodø/Glimt in Marbella.

A vociferous home crowd of just shy of 800 at Selhurst roared on the boys in red and blue, but with both teams keen not to give much away, defences proved well on top in the early stages – that is until Everton missed two gilt-edged opportunities on the 15-minute mark.

A fine cross-field pass saw right-back Roman Dixon run clear down the flank, and when his low ball in took a deflection towards Katia Kouyate, the Everton forward swung his leg at it, wildly mis-kicking into the path of fellow striker Mackenzie Hunt, who also somehow swiped and connected only with air.

After Palace scrambled behind, Everton went short from the corner, and Metcalfe bent in a high cross which threatened to loop in at the far post – forcing Joe Whitworth to be on his toes to back-pedal and palm the ball behind.

Where Everton should have gone ahead at one end, Palace then ought to have taken the lead at the other within seconds; a clipped ball round the corner from Mofe Jemide was inadvertently looped forwards via an Everton boot, and the Eagles’ Trialist – out of nowhere – was suddenly clean through. With the 'keeper advancing, the No. 9 took his effort early – but swept his shot across goal, rolling wide of the far post.

The flurry of chances paved way to a spell of Palace enjoying greater territory, if not much to show for it – but Danny Imray was proving a constant live-wire and, after seeing one shot deflect narrowly wide, linked up superbly with Rak-Sakyi on the wing, racing onto a reverse pass but slotting his effort off target from a tight angle.

Four minutes into first-half injury-time, just as it appeared that defences would finish the period on top, Palace found a deserved breakthrough.

The move was started and finished by Umeh, whose header on the halfway line set Justin Devenny racing towards the Everton box. Making an overlapping run, Trialist did well to receive the pass and show quick feet to dance to the byline, and his reverse pass found Umeh in plenty of space at the near post to sweep home for his 10th goal of the season.

It was a fillip fully deserved by Palace, who withdrew Ozoh and Rak-Sakyi at half-time and introduced Rodney and Mathurin in their place.

With Everton setting up more offensively, there was more space to operate in following the restart.

Palace were quick to take full advantage. Trialist collected the ball deep in his own half, drove past the halfway line and played it to Umeh, whose electrifying pace took him to the byline. Racing forwards to get onto the return, Trialist was in the right place at the right time to crash home from close range – 2-0, and fully deserved.

Palace were beginning to purr, and a fine solo run from Mathurin – between two Everton shirts – saw him produce  a low shot 25 yards out, well kept out by Crellin in the visiting goal.

But then, out of nowhere, an Everton lifeline on the hour; from a short corner, a low ball in from Metcalfe somehow evaded a crowd of players inside the box and, with Whitworth stranded, crept in at the far post.

Despite that tonic, Palace’s pace on the counter-attack was proving irrepressible, with Trialist denied his second by an instinctive Crellin save with his boot, before the No. 9 dragged wide of the far post from slightly further out.

Thankfully, the Eagles’ persistence paid off; Devenny was once again given plenty of room to operate in on the right wing and, as Everton bodies rushed back to cover, Imray bust a gut to sprint beyond him, receiving the ball from the tightest of angles – and crashing a high finish above Crellin and in via the underside of the bar.

While the traffic remained mostly one-directional, there was still the opportunity for Whitworth to show off his reflexes in the Palace goal, getting across well to push away Kouyate’s rising drive from the edge of the box.

Moments later, he produced an even better stop, springing high to turn away Metcalfe’s curling strike from 30 yards at full-stretch.

He even came close to preventing Everton from pulling a goal back from the penalty spot with six minutes remaining. When Metcalfe was brought down by Noah Watson inside the area, the Palace ‘keeper got a hand to the Everton forward’s effort, but was ultimately beaten for sheer power.

That set up a tense finale in SE25 – not helped by the signalling of six additional minutes – but Palace had looked so dangerous on the counter-attack all game long.

And so the case proved in the third minute of injury time when Palace intercepted the ball on the edge of the box, Mathurin played a diagonal ball forwards, Trialist – two-on-one – headed down for Devenny on the edge of the area – and the midfielder dispatched his effort with aplomb.

Counter-attacking football at its best – the game, the tie, the occasion in the Premier League International Cup, was once again Crystal Palace's. 

Who's up for a shot at revenge?

**Palace:** Whitworth, Imray, Grehan (Watson, 31), Farquhar, Jemide, Devenny, Wells-Morrison (Reid, 87), Ozoh (Rodney, 45), Umeh, Trialist, Rak-Sakyi (Mathurin, 45).

**Subs not used:** Izquierdo (GK), V. Williams, Gibbard.

**Everton:** Crellin (GK), Dixon, John, Welch, Onyango, Warrington, Armstrong, Butterfield (Djankpata 55), Kouyate (Catesby, 79), Metcalfe, Hunt.

**Subs not used:** Barnsley (GK), Jones, Tierney, Bates, Patterson.

Fine finishes from Franco Umeh, Trialist, Danny Imray and Justin Devenny saw Crystal Palace Under-21s soar past Everton 4-2 at Selhurst Park to set up a Premier League International Cup Final rematch with PSV Eindhoven.

Report & Highlights: Palace power past Toffees to reach PL International Cup Final

Crystal Palace U21 v Everton U21 (2024-04-16)

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To mark the centenary of the foundation of the Football League in 1888, a series of events were organised.

This included the dream for every football fan to this day, as a Football League XI played a Rest of the World XI, with Diego Maradona, Michel Platini and Gary Lineker lining up for the away side; Bryan Robson and Norman Whiteside scored as Bobby Robson’s Football League XI won 3-0.

Another was the Football League Centenary Tournament, given the catchy name of the Mercantile Credit Football Festival. Initially set up as a six-a-side competition, it was changed to 11 a-side, featuring 16 teams from the top four divisions.

Palace joined Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Leeds United as the Second Division participants, with Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton and Nottingham Forest among the First Division big hitters.

Matches took place over two days and were just 40 minutes in total. The short 20-minute halves saw most games end goalless, being settled by penalty shoot-outs. This is how Palace were defeated, losing out to Sheffield Wednesday in the first round.

Nottingham Forest were crowned champions, and in typical Old Big ‘Ead fashion, Brian Clough decided he would turn up for the finals on the second day in the presumption his team would qualify.

They did, beating Sheffield Wednesday in the final – on penalties after a goalless draw, of course – to lift the trophy.

It took Crystal Palace more than 120 years to make their first appearance at Wembley Stadium on this day (16th April) in 1988 – within the next three years they would be back there on three more occasions.

OTD: Palace make first-ever Wembley appearance

Since promotion in 2013, Palace have only gone three seasons without winning away from home against one of Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.

This season has seen them win at both Old Trafford and Anfield in the league for the first time, after winning at both the Etihad and the Emirates in 2018/19.

So let’s have a look back at some of the very best…

### **Auf Wiedersehen, Jürgen**

Palace have been a particular scourge of Jürgen Klopp’s sides, usually so imperious at Anfield, winning three times in his nine years at the club.

The first came under Alan Pardew in 2015, as Yannick Bolasie and Scott Dann scored the goals, before a Christian Benteke double against his former club in 2017.

The hat-trick was completed on Sunday thanks to Ebere Eze’s winner. It’s safe to say Klopp won’t be pining for his Premier League battles with Palace any time soon.

2 minute highlights: Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace

### **Puskás against Pep**

Has there been a better Premier League volley than Andros Townsend’s at the Etihad? Apologies to any Tony Yeboah enthusiasts, but surely that rasping, ferocious strike is the very best. It was nominated for FIFA’s Puskás Award marking the best goal at any level in the professional game that season.

Palace held on in a dramatic encounter to win 3-2, but it wasn’t the only fantastic victory against Pep Guardiola’s side.

Andros Townsend vs Man City

In 2021, the Eagles recorded another victory at the Etihad – but this time kept a clean sheet in the process.

Wilfried Zaha – who else? – put Palace ahead inside six minutes, before Aymeric Laporte was sent off just before the break. Palace clung on, before breaking forwards in the dying minutes for Conor Gallagher to seal the result and spark bedlam in the away end.

### **Performing at the Theatre**

Joachim Andersen’s fantastic half-volley was enough for Palace to take all three points from Old Trafford this season, coming through a turgid affair in biblical conditions to return to south London happy.

It made it three Premier League victories at the Theatre of Dreams, after back-to-back results in 2019 and 2020.

The first was the most dramatic, with Patrick van Aanholt scoring a 92nd minute winner after Daniel James had seemed to earn Manchester United a last-minute point.

The second came in the strange period of games played behind closed doors, with Wilfried Zaha returning to haunt his former side, scoring twice.

### **Conquering north London**

Palace’s sole Premier League victory at the Emirates – there have been plenty more at Selhurst Park – was a blockbuster: a five-goal thriller with the unlikeliest of heroes.

The Eagles had taken the lead through Christian Benteke in the first-half, but Arsenal scored just after the break to take the ascendency, and soon they were pushing to take the lead.

Best of the PL: Arsenal 2-3 Crystal Palace | 2019

But Palace were not to be cowed, and were ahead again on the hour-mark thanks to Zaha, before James McArthur popped up with a rare goal to put the result within their reach.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got one back for the Gunners to set up a nervy ending with 15 minutes remaining, but the Eagles held on to take all three points south of the river.

### **Brilliance at the Bridge**

One of Palace’s greatest Premier League results came against Chelsea at Selhurst Park, after seven straight defeats to start the season – but we’re focused on massive results away from home.

The Eagles’ first came in 2015, as Bakary Sako and Joel Ward – yes, Joel Ward – scored the goals to put Palace second in the table. Alright, it was August, but still.

Then, in 2017, they took it up a level. Chelsea were top of the table in April under Antonio Conte and were on their way to winning the title, but they took a rare misstep in the run-in thanks to Luka Milivojevic and co.

It was a wild start to the game that decided the result. Cesc Fabregas put Chelsea ahead inside five minutes, but four minutes later Zaha equalised, before Benteke added another inside 120 seconds. Then the long wait ensued, and Palace held on.

What a result.

When Crystal Palace head to the biggest stadiums in the land, there is a tendency for them to be written off before a ball has been kicked. After another famous victory at Anfield on Sunday, they laid down another reminder as to why it has always been a foolish approach.

Upsetting the odds: When Palace smash the favourites on the road

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Match reports

Match reports

Report & Highlights: Palace power past Toffees to reach PL International Cup Final

OTD: Palace make first-ever Wembley appearance

Upsetting the odds: When Palace smash the favourites on the road

CPFC Sale - Up to 70% off

Latest Videos

Premier League International Cup Highlights: Crystal Palace 4-2 Everton

Women's Highlights: Crystal Palace 1-0 Birmingham City

The Full 90 | Liverpool vs Crystal Palace | PalaceTV+

Extended Highlights: Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace | Palace TV+

2 minute highlights: Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace

Post-match press conference: Liverpool (A)

16Joachim
Andersen

Match reports

Match reports

Report & Highlights: Palace power past Toffees to reach PL International Cup Final

OTD: Palace make first-ever Wembley appearance

Upsetting the odds: When Palace smash the favourites on the road

CPFC Sale - Up to 70% off

Latest Videos

Premier League International Cup Highlights: Crystal Palace 4-2 Everton

Women's Highlights: Crystal Palace 1-0 Birmingham City

The Full 90 | Liverpool vs Crystal Palace | PalaceTV+

Extended Highlights: Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace | Palace TV+

2 minute highlights: Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace

Post-match press conference: Liverpool (A)

16JoachimAndersen

16Joachim
Andersen