Crystal palace
By Taye James
Crystal Palace made history by winning their first-ever Community Shield title, defeating Liverpool 3-2 on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw in regular time. The match, held at Wembley Stadium on August 10, 2025, saw both teams create numerous scoring opportunities, with Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr scoring crucial goals. Liverpool took an early lead in the 4th minute when Hugo Ekitike scored from close range, catching the Palace defense off guard. Crystal Palace equalized in the 17th minute through Mateta’s penalty kick, awarded after a foul in the box. Jeremie Frimpong restored Liverpool’s advantage in the 21st minute with a cross-shot, but Palace leveled again in the 77th minute when Sarr converted from an incisive through-ball.
The game went to a penalty shootout after regular time ended 2-2, with both teams having chances to win in the dying minutes but unable to find the winner. Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson made crucial saves from Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott, securing his team’s win. Justin Devenny sealed the victory with a decisive spot-kick, blasting the ball past Alisson.
The match was a closely contested one, with both teams showing their attacking prowess. The goalscorers for Liverpool were Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong, while Mateta and Sarr scored for Palace. The penalty shootout saw Palace win 3-2, with Henderson’s key saves proving decisive. Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi were key players for Palace, providing width and solidity in defense, while Mohamed Salah and Luis Díaz were notable for Liverpool, constantly threatening the Palace defense.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner praised his team’s performance, saying they matched Liverpool’s intensity and deserved the win. He was particularly pleased with the team’s resilience and ability to come back from behind twice in the match. The victory marks a significant milestone for Palace, who will now compete in European football, pending the outcome of their appeal hearing regarding multi-club ownership issues.
The win is a testament to the team’s progress under Glasner, who has instilled a sense of belief and determination in the players. The Palace players celebrated wildly with the fans after the final whistle, basking in the glory of their historic win. For Liverpool, the loss was a disappointment, but they will look to build on the positives from the match as they prepare for the new season.
