July 12 2018

Mamadou Sakho

Crystal Palace began their pre-season campaign with a 2-2 draw away to Danish club FC Helsingor.

Helsingor, who were relegated from Denmark's top flight, proved in the end to be tougher-than-expected opponents for Roy Hodgson's side.

Hodgson handed a first start to new goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, while Academy star Nya Kirby and Polish centre half Jaroslaw Jach also began the game.

Palace went a goal down with just five minutes gone on the clock after a Helsingor corner from the left was headed in by an unmarked Douglas at the far post.

The Eagles responded well and drew parity in the 20th minute as Sullay Kaikai's right side cross was easily turned into the net by Alexander Sorloth.

JULIAN SPERONI and Jason Lokilo came on for the second half and Hodgson used up the rest of his bench just before the hour mark with eight arrivals coming onto the field.

The new boys made an instant impression as Andros Townsend’s corner was flicked on by Christian Benteke and James McArthur for Mamadou Sakho to make it 2-1 on 61 minutes.

But with seven minutes remaining, James Tomkins diverted a Helsingor cross into his own net while under pressure from Patrick Olsen and the fixture ended all square.

Palace: Guaita (SPERONI 46), Wan-Bissaka (Ward 59), Souare (Van Aanholt 59), Jach (Tomkins 59), Kelly (Sakho 59), Kirby, Puncheon (McArthur 59), Riedewald (Townsend 59), Schlupp (Lokilo 46), Kaikai (Zaha 59), Sorloth (Benteke 59).