FA Cup: Crystal Palace smash Everton to book Wembley place

Crystal Palace produced a slick attacking performance to thrash Everton 4-0 and secure an FA Cup semi-final place at Wembley.

Marc Guehi, called up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the first time earlier this week, headed home Michael Olise’s corner for the opening goal, with Jean-Philippe Mateta then converting from Wilfried Zaha’s cut-back.

Palace, FA Cup runners-up in 2016, when they were narrowly beaten by Manchester United in extra-time, continued to overpower Everton in the second half with Zaha and substitute Will Hughes extending their lead with close-range finishes.

Relegation-threatened Everton came into the game on the back of a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Newcastle in the Premier League on Thursday, but those exertions appeared to take a toll in the south London sun as they rarely threatened after a bright start.

Palace, on the other hand, offered plenty of excitement with Olise, Eberechi Eze, Zaha and Conor Gallagher named in the same starting line-up for the first time, the youthful quartet allowing the home supporters to continue dreaming of Wembley glory.

 

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