August 4 2018

Christian Benteke

Crystal Palace ended their summer campaign unbeaten with a 4-1 victory at home against Toulouse.

New signing Max Meyer didn't make the squad, seemingly due to match fitness, while fellow new boy Cheikhou Kouyate started on the bench.

Toulouse began the game brightly with a couple of attempts on goal, including one from former Palace midfielder John Bostock.

And the French side went ahead in the 10th minute through Max Gradel, who fired a shot that was parried by new goalie Vicente Guaita, and Aaron Leya Iseka slotted home.

James Tomkins got the ball in the Toulouse net after 26 minutes after turning in WILFRIED ZAHA's strike that rebounded off the post but the linesman flagged for offside.

Seconds later, Palace were on level terms as fit-again striker Christian Benteke nodded Luka Milivojevic's corner into the onion bag.

The Eagles went 2-1 up seven minutes afterwards, thanks to good play between ZAHA and Patrick van Aanholt which led to Jeffrey Schlupp rifling into the far corner.

They got their third goal of the afternoon in the 38th minute with a Milivojevic penalty after Andros Townsend was hauled down in the area.

After the break, the scoring slowed down and Eagles boss Roy Hodgson made a number of substitutions, which included the introduction of ex-West Ham midfielder Kouyate.

ZAHA completed an emphatic win for the English club with a fourth goal nine minutes from time by lashing James McArthur's assist into the roof of the net.

Palace: Guaita, Wan-Bissaka (Ward 63), Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt (Souare 83), Townsend, Milivojevic, McArthur (Williams 88), Schlupp (Kouyate 73), ZAHA (Kaikai 82), Benteke (Sorloth 82).

Not used: Speroni, Kelly, Puncheon, Wickham.

Toulouse: Reynet, Michelin (Fortes 68), Jullien, Moubandje (Sangere 64), Amian, Cahuzac (Dossevi 64), Bostock, Garcia (Bodiger 70), Jean (Sylla 64), Gradel (Sanogo 73), Iseka.

Not used: Goicoechea, Todibo.