Jorgen Strand Larsen found the back of the net twice, steering Crystal Palace into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a convincing 3-0 triumph over Middlesbrough at Selhurst Park. The Norwegian striker opened the scoring in the first half with a well‑timed header, and he replicated the effort after the interval to double Palace’s lead. A third goal arrived when substitute Daichi Kamada lofted a precise pass over the Middlesbrough keeper Sol Brynn, who could only watch the ball settle in the net. The victory highlighted Palace’s efficiency in a lively contest that, for much of the evening, was dominated by the visitors.
Middlesbrough entered the match with the Championship’s top scorer, Will Lankshear, on the bench, but both managers made eight changes to their starting line‑ups. The Boro side, despite their attacking pedigree, struggled to translate possession into clear-cut chances, and their inability to capitalize on the few opportunities that did arise left them trailing as the game progressed.
Palace, on the other hand, adopted a patient, counter‑attacking approach. They allowed Middlesbrough to press forward, absorbing the pressure before springing into action when the ball was won.
This tactical blueprint underpinned all three of their goals. Defensively, Palace’s shape was initially shaky.
Early in the first half, a hesitant touch from Yeremy Pino resulted in a turnover that sparked a Middlesbrough attack, and goalkeeper Walter Benítez attempted a risky pass that found Ben Chilwell, inviting further pressure. Amario Cozier‑Duberry then fired a shot that was comfortably saved by Benítez, prompting a period of sustained Boro pressure. Palace eventually found rhythm, executing a slick interchange that saw Pino’s effort blocked, while David Strelec and Callum Brittain each tried to break through on the opposite flank.
Meanwhile, Brynn produced a sharp save to deny Pino a clear‑cut chance, keeping the scoreline level. Middlesbrough continued to dominate possession, with Cozier‑Duberry operating as their primary threat down the right wing. He forced another effort that drifted wide, but Palace’s defence held firm.
The breakthrough came when Palace launched a swift move that shifted the ball from left to right. Oscar Mingueza delivered a low cross into the box, and Strand Larsen rose to meet it, nodding the ball past a startled Brynn.
The speed and precision of the transition left the Boro defence flat‑footed and set the tone for the remainder of the match. The second half mirrored the first in terms of territorial dominance by Middlesbrough, yet Palace’s counter‑attack remained lethal. A scramble in the area of the goal saw Palace clear their lines, only to be rewarded again by a rapid switch of play.
This time, Chilwell supplied a lofted ball that found Larsen unmarked; the striker’s second header completed the 2-0 lead. Middlesbrough’s threat persisted, with Aidan Morris testing the Palace keeper, but Benítez was again the man between the striker and the goal. As the home side continued to absorb pressure, the visitors’ frustration grew. The final blow arrived when Kamada, introduced as a substitute, timed his run perfectly.
Spotting Brynn out of position, he lifted a gentle chip that floated over the keeper and into the net, sealing a 3-0 victory for Palace. Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage reflected on the performance: "We didn’t start well, but once we scored the first goal everything clicked.
It was a collective effort. In the first half I wasn’t happy with our defending – they were playing between the lines – but we fixed that at halftime.
The second half was better; we scored, we held our shape, and even without dominating possession we managed to win. They’re a good team and deserve credit." Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg praised his side despite the loss: "Losing 3-0 is always tough, especially when you’re not scoring.
Yet, looking at the performance, we gave an impressive 60 minutes away from home against a Premier League outfit. We created more good positions than they did, but their quality in those moments made the difference. Very few Championship teams can control a Premier League side the way we did, and I’m proud of that." The win propels Crystal Palace into the next stage of the Carabao Cup, where they will aim to continue their disciplined, counter‑punching style against future opponents. Meanwhile, Middlesbrough will return to the Championship with lessons learned about converting possession into goals against higher‑level competition.