Eze powers Palace past former QPR mates
Eberechi Eze scored the winner against his former club as Crystal Palace moved through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 win at Queens Park Rangers.
Premier League Palace had gone ahead in the first half when Eddie Nketiah scored his first goal since moving from Arsenal to the Eagles in the transfer window, a rasping shot from a tight angle on 16 minutes.
Palace looked comfortable up to half-time against its EFL Championship opponent and went in with a narrow lead, but a brilliant save from Dean Henderson not long after the break proved QPR had something to give.
Indeed the hosts proved eactly that when on 53 minutes when Henderson failed to parry a corner far enough out of danger and the ball fell kindly to Sam Field, who lashed home an equaliser.
But Palace was sparked into life again barely 10 minute later when Eze made a run from inside his own half, firing off a shot from outside the box that took a wicked deflection into the back of the net and put the visitors back in front.
Palace had further chances to finish the tie off, Ismaila Sarr forcing a good save from Joe Walsh having come on as a substitute, but the the visitors were lucky not to concede at the death when Alfie Lloyd found himself clear and running towards goal, only to blast his shot inches wide of Henderson's right-hand post.
Palace held out for the win, only its second in all competitions this season, but a vital won in a competition Oliver Glasner has said he believes the club can win.