Next Generation Cup 2024: Muthoot FA beaten by Crystal Palace; secure bonus point via penalty shootout

Muthoot FA lost their second match in the Next Generation Cup.

Crystal Palace FC beat Muthoot FA 3-0 in their Reliance Foundation presents Premier League Next Generation Cup 2024 fixture today, with two goals in the opening half and a strike late into the game to wrap up the proceedings. Muthoot FA came into this game on the back of an impressive outing against Everton FC, where they lost by a close margin of 1-0.

This match was controlled by the Crystal Palace FC frontline coordinating seamlessly to unlock the Muthoot FA defence and finding the goal on three different occasions.

However, Muthoot FA salvaged the situation by winning the mandatory penalty shootout after the match, with a 5-4 margin. A full game in the  Next Generation Cup 2024 consists of a 50-minute match time, split by halves of 25 minutes and a mandatory penalty shootout that follows irrespective of the outcome of the game in the regulation time.

The winner of the shootout bags a bonus point and Muthoot FA thus opened their account in the tournament by delivering a flawless performance in the spot kicks. They have thus become the first Indian club to register points in the competition.

For Crystal Palace FC, Enrique Lameiras opened the floodgates with a timely goal 14 minutes into the game. The effort was more of a making by his teammate Caleb Redhead, who pounced upon the gaps right through the middle of the Muthoot FA backline. Lameiras was at the right place to jump upon the rebound off Muthoot FA goalkeeper Kamalesh Mathivanan and converted it with ease.

Crystal Palace FC continued to be on the offence. They optimised thr short passage of play, with David Montien making the perfect run from the left flank to receive and convert a cross that was sliced into the Muthoot FA box. Montien didn’t have to break a sweat, putting his foot out and tapping the ball in to double their lead in the 16th minute.

Muthoot FA made a few attempts to cut the deficit, but Crystal Palace FC were well organised at the back and dynamic upfront. They didn’t let their guard down even when the match neared its end. They often outnumbered the Muthoot FA players in their own box, and Lameiras capitalised on one such opportunity in the 47th minute, when a loose delivery on the right side of the 18-yard box came to him and he drilled the ball into the back of the net to cap off a convincing outing for his team.

“First of all, I think the team needs to be more competitive by reducing our errors. We conceded three silly goals. The team is disappointed at conceding goals due to individual errors. We defended well as a team, but not so much from an individual standpoint.

“We were a little bit more concentrated in the penalty shootouts, which is important in this competition. We focus on that aspect as well, which is important as the tournament progresses. Everything is related to trial and error. We are aware of our tactical discipline and will be better prepared against such opponents,” Muthoot FA coach Anees Koraliyadan said after the game.

Brief Scores

Crystal Palace FC 3 (Enrique Lameiras 14’ 47’, David Montien 16’) – 0 Muthoot FA

Penalties

Muthoot FA 5-4 Crystal Palace FC

August 3 – Schedule

1: Tottenham Hotspur FC vs Muthoot FA – 07:30 PM IST

2: Crystal Palace FC vs Stellenbosch FC – 07:30 PM IST

3: Aston Villa FC vs East Bengal FC – 10:30 PM IST

4: Everton FC vs Punjab FC – 10:30 PM IST

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