Crawley Town wrapped up their 2025 pre-season campaign with a tough test against Premier League side Crystal Palace at Broadfield Stadium. Despite a spirited display from the League Two outfit, the match ended in a 3-0 defeat, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eberechi Eze among the standout performers for the Eagles.
Trending Now: “Interrrrr” keyword spikes on Google – What’s behind the buzz? [Read More]
Match Summary
Crystal Palace started strong, and within the opening two minutes, French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta found the back of the net after pouncing on a defensive lapse.
Despite efforts from Crawley Town to stay compact and grow into the match, Eberechi Eze – fresh off his extended break post-England duty – doubled the lead before halftime with a calm finish after linking up smartly with Mateta.
In the second half, Daniel Munoz sealed the win for Palace with a clean strike in the 70th minute, capping off a dominant display by the FA Cup champions.
Final Score:
Crawley Town 0–3 Crystal Palace
Goals:
-
Mateta (2’)
-
Eze (34’)
-
Munoz (70’)
Match Highlights
-
Crawley’s goalkeeper Harvey Davies, on loan from Liverpool, made several crucial saves.
-
Daichi Kamada’s long-range shot sparked laughter as it missed the target wildly.
-
Trialist No. 66 earned cheers after drawing a controversial non-penalty decision.
-
Reece Brown and Jack Roles both tested Palace’s keeper from distance.
Watch full match highlights on Palace TV+ or Crawley Town’s official YouTube channel.
Team News & Lineups
Crawley Town Starting XI:
Davies; Radcliffe, Conroy, Barker; Roles, Anderson, Williams, Fraser, Holohan, Watson; Adeyemo
Notable absences: Jojo Wollacott, Joy Mukena
New additions: Harvey Davies (GK), Kabongo Tshimanga, Kyle Scott
Crystal Palace Starting XI:
Henderson; Clyne, Guehi, Lacroix; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Sosa; Esse, Mateta, Eze
Injury updates: Chadi Riad, Cheick Doucoure sidelined
Key returnees: Marc Guehi, Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Wharton
Manager Reaction
Crawley manager Scott Lindsey praised the team’s effort despite the loss:
“It was a tough challenge, but we needed this level of test before the season starts. I’m happy with the fitness and character shown.”
What’s Next?
-
Crawley Town kick off their League Two campaign away at Grimsby Town on August 2, 2025.
-
Crystal Palace face FC Augsburg next before clashing with Liverpool in the Community Shield on August 10 at Wembley.
Crawley Pre-Season Recap (W-L Record):
-
vs Hearts (L 1-3)
-
vs Three Bridges (W 4-0)
-
vs East Grinstead Town (W 5-1)
-
vs Dagenham & Redbridge (W 5-2)
-
vs Portsmouth (L 0-1)
-
vs Southampton U21s (L 1-2)
-
vs Crystal Palace (L 0-3)
Club Factfile
| Category | Crawley Town FC |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1896 |
| Nickname | Red Devils |
| Stadium | Broadfield Stadium |
| 2024/25 League Finish | 21st (Relegated – League One) |
| Manager | Scott Lindsey |
Flashback: Palace vs Crawley Rivalry
While these two teams often meet in friendlies, they’ve had just one competitive meeting—a League Cup clash in 2011/12. Palace emerged 2-0 winners, thanks to a Wilfried Zaha brace.
Boot in Both Camps
Claude Davis – the Jamaican international – is the only player to have played for both Crawley and Palace, remembered for his leadership and helping Crawley secure promotion from League Two.
Don’t Miss Out!
Stream all Crystal Palace pre-season fixtures, including clashes with FSV Mainz and Augsburg, live on Palace TV+.
Crawley Town fans can follow updates on their official channels as League Two kicks off!