Crystal Palace 3 Middlesbrough 0

Generated by AI

Match Report

Competition: League Cup (Carabao Cup), Round 3
Date: Tuesday, 8 September 2026
Venue: Selhurst Park
Score: Crystal Palace 3–0 Middlesbrough

Crystal Palace progressed to the fourth round of the League Cup with a clinical 3-0 win over Middlesbrough at Selhurst Park, despite spending long spells without the ball and being out-shot by the visitors. Palace’s cutting edge in transition proved decisive, as Jørgen Strand Larsen headed in twice before substitute Daichi Kamada sealed it with a superb late chip.

Middlesbrough started brightly and saw plenty of early possession, forcing Palace into a reactive shape and pushing bodies forward, with their right-sided threat and box entries stretching the home back line. Palace, though, remained patient and looked most dangerous when breaking quickly into space behind Boro’s advanced full-backs.

13’ Palace worked a neat move through midfield that released Yéremy Pino, but Sol Brynn saved low to keep the scores level. Middlesbrough responded with their own pressure and efforts from the edge of the area as the tempo rose in an end-to-end first half.

37’ GOAL (1-0 Crystal Palace): Óscar Mingueza delivered from the right and Strand Larsen timed his run to glance a header beyond Brynn, giving Palace the lead against the flow of Middlesbrough’s control.

After the break, Middlesbrough again threatened, including a scramble in the Palace box that the hosts eventually cleared, but Palace struck again with a near-identical punishment on the counter.

53’ GOAL (2-0 Crystal Palace): Ben Chilwell’s teasing cross was met by Strand Larsen, whose powerful header doubled the advantage and left Middlesbrough chasing a game they had largely driven in terms of territory and volume of attempts.

Middlesbrough continued to create openings and tested Walter Benítez, but with Palace increasingly comfortable absorbing pressure, the tie swung fully in the home side’s favour when Kamada entered from the bench.

72’ GOAL (3-0 Crystal Palace): Daichi Kamada finished the contest with a brilliant lob over Brynn, capping another swift Palace break and putting the scoreline beyond Middlesbrough’s reach.

Palace ended the night with fewer shots and far less possession, but their efficiency and aerial threat (two headed goals) told the story, while Middlesbrough were left to rue dominance that did not translate into goals.

Crystal Palace Line Up

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Position	Player
GK	Walter Benítez
RB	Takehiro Tomiyasu
RCB	Axel Disasi
LCB	Honest Ahanor
LB	Ben Chilwell
CM	Will Hughes
CM	Óscar Mingueza
RW	Darío Osorio
AM	Quinten Timber
LW	Yéremy Pino
ST	Jørgen Strand Larsen

Goals

• 37’ Crystal Palace: Jørgen Strand Larsen (assist: Óscar Mingueza)
• 53’ Crystal Palace: Jørgen Strand Larsen (assist: Ben Chilwell)
• 72’ Crystal Palace: Daichi Kamada

Match Statistics

Stat	Crystal Palace	Middlesbrough
Possession	40.7%	59.3%
Shots	8	16
Shots on target	5	4
Corners	1	6
Fouls conceded	10	11
Yellow cards	0	2
Red cards	0	0
Offsides	2	3
Goalkeeper saves	4	2
Accurate passes	342	539
Pass accuracy	82.6%	90.0%