May 26 2015

Julian Speroni

Fans paid homage to goalkeeper Julian Speroni as Crystal Palace ran out 4-3 winners in his testimonial against Dundee.

More than 11,500 supporters, including 1,700 that travelled down from Scotland, marked their respects for the Argentine's tribute game.

A number of ex-Palace players, including Aki Riihilahti, Danny Butterfield, Matt Lawrence, John Salako, Peter Ramage and Clinton Morrison donned the red and blue stripes to make a return to the famous Selhurst Park turf.

They and a raucous crowd turned out to support the popular goalie who has spent 11 years at Palace, while Dundee fans honoured the three seasons he spent north of the border.

Yannick Bolasie put the South Londoners in front on six minutes after Dundee keeper Kyle Gourley parried a deflected cross.

On 23 minutes, Gourley beat out a low shot from Bolasie and Chung-yong Lee converted another rebound goal for 2-0.

Only seven minutes later, Wilfried Zaha combined with Dwight Gayle for the latter to knock the ball past Jim McAlister before firing beyond Gourley.

Dylan Carreiro pulled a goal back for Dundee but Speroni was called into action with fine stops to keep out Charlie Adam and Luka Tankulic.

Lee set up Gayle for his second of the game to give Palace a 4-1 comfortable lead at half-time.

The second period saw a number of substitutions enter the fray, including Eagles manager Alan Pardew, and Speroni swapped shirts to play the last 15 minutes for The Dee.

Dundee's Adam and Cammy Kerr brought the score to 4-3 with a strike each but they were unable to add any more on what was a wonderful night for Eagles legend Speroni.

Palace: Speroni (Price 71); Ramage (Ashton 46), Hangeland (Butterfield 46), Delaney (Lawrence 46), Ward (Morgan 46, Barrionuev 80); Zaha (Fendley 46, E. Speroni 80), McArthur (Boateng 46, Borsalino 72), Bannan (Riihilahti 46), Bolasie (Gray 46, Salako 60); Lee (Kaikai 46, Pardew 60), Gayle (Morrison 46, Pedercini 75).

Dundee: Gourlay (Speroni 76), Irvine (Colquhorn 46, Adam 75), McGinn (Caballero 46), McPake, McAllister (J. Black 60, Nemsadze 75), Stewart (Carranza 53, J. Black 83), Tankulic (Sara 53) Gadzhalov (Konrad 46), Adam (A. Black 46), Carreiro (Ketsbaia 53), Wighton (Caballero 53).