January 10 2001

Rubins - amazing goal

Crystal Palace have beaten Liverpool by two goals to one in the first leg of the Worthington Cup semi-final at Selhurst Park tonight. Andrejs Rubins put the Eagles 1-0 up with a cracking shot before Clinton Morrison scored the second. Minutes later Smicer pulled one back for Liverpool.

Once again Crystal Palace beat Premiership oppotition in the Worthington Cup although it didn't look like that at the start of the match.

The eagles didn't have a good start allowing Liverpool two big chances. First Emile Heskey passed to Michael Owen who blasted over from close range and then Heskey himself fired over the bar with just goalkeeper Alexandrs Kolinko to beat.

Then it was Palace's turn who gained some confidence out of Liverpool's poor finishing. Reds keeper Sander Westerveld had to come into action with a fingertip save to deny Clinton Morrison and from the resulting corner he somehow maneged to save a point-blank shot by Mikael Forssell.

The second half started well again for Liverpool with Owen having the biggest chance again. He came one-on-one with the Palace 'keeper but Kolinko did well and deflected the ball with his head.

It was in the 55th minute when Palace took the lead through a magnificent goal by Andrejs Rubins. The Latvian received the ball from Simon Rodger and fired it from 25-yards past Westerveld into the Liverpool net.

Liverpool boss Houllier then reacted by replacing start striker Owen and midfielder Murphy by Jari Litmanen, making his debut, and Vladimir Smicer.

It did not help Houllier's side much and instead it was Palace who doubled the lead after 76 minutes. It was Forssell who knocked down a Craig Harrison cross to allow Morrison to score a deserved second goal for The Eagles.

A minute later however Liverpool pulled one back through substitute Smicer who tapped in a Litmanen cross.

It was a life line for The Reds but nothing more than that. Palace held on to the lead and made their fans feel "Glad All Over" after 90 minutes.

Crystal Palace travel to Anfield with a 2-1 lead for the second leg on Wednesday, January 24.

Post match comments

Match winner Clinton Morrison was disappointed about conceding a late goal.

"But hopefully we can go to Liverpool and do a good job," he said. "I wanted to prove to people that I can play in the Premiership and that's where I want to play.

"We are definitely disappointed. To be 2-0 up and then for them to nick a goal makes it much more difficult.

"But we could have been dead and buried by half-time. You need luck in this competition and we have done well."

Palace manager Alan Smith added: "I couldn't have asked for any more from my players. I'm satisfied with our night's work as it was important to take something to Anfield to try to hang on to."

To see Palace in training before the match Click here

To see exclusive Allsport photos from the match Click here

To hear Alan Smith on the game, Click here