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How Zaha, Benteke inspired Crystal Palace to 5-1 triumph over West Brom

Wilfred Zaha and Christian Benteke again underlined his importance to Crystal Palace as they took advantage of the controversial dismissal of Matheus Pereira to claim their first points in three games with a 5-1 rout at West Brom.

According to the BBC sport report, Forward Zaha had missed Palace’s previous two matches – both of which ended in defeat – after testing positive for Covid-19 but quickly found his feet again at The Hawthorns with a typically lively attacking display that included two goals and an assist.

It was from his low cross that Darnell Furlong diverted the ball into his own net to give the visitors the lead and his whipped finish into the far corner that restored the advantage after Conor Gallagher’s low, driven equaliser.

Between these two Zaha contributions, though, came the incident that completely altered the complexion of the game – Pereira’s red card.

It seemed unclear, even after multiple replays, whether the Baggies forward intended his boot to make contact with Patrick van Aanholt’s midriff while on the ground, but referee Paul Tierney had no doubt after viewing the incident on the pitch-side monitor.

Prior to that, Albion had been the better side with momentum behind them after Gallagher’s leveller, which came shortly after Furlong had gone close to making amends for his own goal with a header that came back off the bar.

But holding out for almost an hour with 10 men proved impossible, and Zaha sparked a Palace goal-fest.

read also:Crystal Palace winger Zaha self-isolating after positive coronavirus test

Christian Benteke headed the first of his two goals of the afternoon from a Van Aanholt cross just four minutes after his strike-partner’s fine finish.

Zaha was on hand again to tap in from close range to make it 4-1 following a driving run into the box from Eberechi Eze before Benteke added the icing with a lovely finish on the turn.

It is the first time Palace have scored five away from home in a top-flight game and lifts them to 11th in the table, three points off the top four.

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