Penalty heartbreak for Palace (From Croydon Guardian)

Penalty heartbreak for Palace

10:38pm Tuesday 24th January 2012 in Eagles News By Graham Moody

Crystal Palace missed out on their first major cup final appearance in 22 years as they were cruelly denied by a penalty shoot-out defeat to Cardiff City.

The Eagles missed three out of their four spot kicks as the Bluebirds went through to Wembley but Palace had to be proud of the effort they put in to take it that far.

In normal time, Anthony Gardner’s seventh-minute own goal cancelled out his own header from the first leg and when captain Paddy McCarthy was red carded midway through the second half the writing looked on the wall.

But Palace launched a fantastic rearguard action that had luck on its side as Kenny Miller, Filip Kiss and Arun Gunnarsson all hit the crossbar, the latter in the last minute of extra time.

And then came penalties.

Kenny Miller shot woefully over with the first kick and then Jermaine Easter saw his tame effort saved by Tom Heaton.

Craig Conway smashed his down the middle to put Cardiff ahead and then Sean Scannell’s kick was also kept out by Heaton.

Rudy Gestede furthered the advantage before Mile Jedinak found the bottom corner to put Palace on the board.

Peter Whittingham sent Speroni the wrong way, meaning Jonathan Parr had to score but he sent his kick wide of the post to put Cardiff through.

It had been a meteoric effort by Palace to get that far though and the cruellest of ways to go out.

Eagles fans let off red and blue balloons as the teams ran out into a cauldron of atmosphere at the sell-out Cardiff City stadium.

Palace began playing toward their fans as the supporters created a raucous noise that Cardiff’s players responded to as they camped in the Eagles’ half.

Craig Conway had already had a penalty shout turned down before the Bluebird levelled the tie on seven minutes.

Don Cowie was allowed to escape behind Jonathan Parr and get to the byline to put in a fizzing cross that Gardner stooped to head clear but could only send rocketing into his own net.

It was a massive blow for Palace to lose their first leg advantage with less than10 minutes on the clock.

Nathaniel Clyne was booked for a clumsy tip on Conway before Julian Speroni had to be alert to parry a Peter Whittingham pildrive.

Palace got back into the game, looking for Wilfried Zaha at every opportunity, but they couldn’t create a clear cut chance and Cardiff should arguably have scored twice more before half-time.

The Bluebirds countered after Tom Heaton punched away Darren Ambrose’s dangerous free kick and Aron Gunnarsson played in Kenny Miller who should have done better than roll his shot wide of the post.

He came even closer in first-half stoppage time as his shot cannoned back off the post and to safety as Palace were relieved to hit half time one goal down., They came out much better in the second half but Peter Whittingham was allowed to fire wide from distance before Chris Martin shot over from the edge of the box at the other end.

Speroni then thwarted Peter Whittingham as one of his trade mark free kicks headed for the top corner and McCarthy had to be alert to clear Anthony Gerrard’s header away from inside his own six-yard box.

Sean Scannell’s introduction almost reaped instant rewards as he ran at the Cardiff defence and supplied Zaha, only for the winger to slash his shot horribly wide.

And, two minutes later, Palace found themselves even more on the back foot when McCarthy, already booked for a tussle with Miller, ploughed into the back of the striker to earn a second booking.

Palace were on the back foot and had Zaha to thank as he brilliantly blocked Cowie shot just as he looked set to win it for Cardiff.

Instead the match was plunged into extra time and another 30 minutes, with Dougie Freedman taking his team to right in front of the Palace fans for their team talk.

The game descended into the classic training ground routine of defence against attack but Palace looked threatening on the break with Scannell running at the Bluebirds’ defence.

But it was Cardiff who had the two best chances of the first half, Cowie shooting over from inside the box and substitute Rudy Gestede shooting straight at Speroni.

Again, Freedman did his team talk in front of the Eagles fans before they embarked into the last 15 minutes.

Into the final 15 minutes and Filip Kiss’ half volley grazed the top of the crossbar as Cardiff continued to press.

But Palace broke as Zaha nicked the ball off Kevin McNaughton and Scannell played Jermaine Easter in only for Ben Turner to make an excellent block.

Gestede’s downward header then went straight to Speroni as Palace entered the final five minutes level.

Whittingham shot somehow deflected wide of Gardner and then, in the very last minute, Gunarsson headed against the bar from a corner as the Palace goal continued its remarkably charmed life.

And then came penalties and heartbreak.