Benítez the Hero as Palace Edge Millwall in Carabao Cup Thriller
It was a night full of drama at Selhurst Park, and one that Crystal Palace fans will not forget in a hurry. Their team edged past fierce rivals Millwall in the Carabao Cup third round, but it took a penalty shootout – and the heroics of debut goalkeeper Walter Benítez – to get the job done.
For much of the game, Palace looked like they would progress in more straightforward fashion. The breakthrough came in the 72nd minute when defender Chris Richards, alert inside the box, pounced on a loose ball after a corner routine and finished from close range. That goal seemed to put Palace on course for a comfortable ending. But football rarely follows the script.
Millwall, who had worked tirelessly throughout, refused to go quietly. Just as stoppage time began, Ryan Leonard rose highest at a corner and directed a header into the bottom corner, stunning the home crowd. That late equaliser meant penalties were required, and the nerves were suddenly stretched across Selhurst Park.
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Palace might have avoided all of that if Jean-Philippe Mateta had converted a golden chance minutes earlier. With the goal at his mercy, he dragged his shot wide from eight yards. The miss was greeted with disbelief, and it almost proved costly. But fate had something different planned.
In the shootout, Benítez – a summer signing from PSV making his first Palace appearance – stepped into the spotlight. He had spent the early part of the season as second choice behind Dean Henderson, but on this night he wrote his own story. Diving with precision and showing sharp reactions, he saved two Millwall efforts, first from Tristan Crama and then from Aidomo Emakhu. His teammates, calm under pressure, converted all four of their spot-kicks. The final tally was 4–2 in Palace’s favour, sending them into the fourth round.
The result extended Palace’s unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions, a run dating back to mid-April. Manager Oliver Glasner had named a strong side, perhaps influenced by the momentum of last season’s FA Cup triumph, and it paid off. Benítez was joined in the line-up by teenage French defender Jaydee Canvot, also making his debut, while experienced figures like Marc Guéhi and Will Hughes provided the backbone.
Millwall, under Alex Neil, had made seven changes from their previous Championship outing, yet their resilience was clear. They frustrated Palace at times and created openings, notably through Camiel Neghli in the first half. Leonard’s dramatic equaliser reflected their fighting spirit, even if their night ultimately ended in disappointment.
For Palace, the bigger picture looks positive. Confidence is growing, the unbeaten streak continues, and crucially, a new hero has announced himself between the posts. Supporters left the ground knowing that, on this occasion, a derby clash was decided by the hands of Walter Benítez.
Now attention turns back to league action, with Palace heading to West Ham for another London derby at the weekend, while Millwall regroup for a Championship clash with Watford. But for one night at least, the story was about penalties, passion, and a goalkeeper’s perfect debut.
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