Arsenal U18s leave it late to snatch crucial win at Crystal Palace | OneFootball

With the table tightening at the top, Arsenal’s last-gasp win moves them into third on goals scored, two points off first place with two games in hand.

A late winner from Came’ron Ismail completed a comeback as Arsenal U18s defeated Crystal Palace U18s 2–1 in the 92nd minute to move within striking distance of the top of the U18 Premier League South.

With the match level at 1–1 in stoppage time, and Palace hoping to cling onto a point, Brando Bailey-Joseph led a swift counter-attack before sliding the ball into the path of Ismail, who rifled a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner from the left side of the box.

The goal, after coming off the bench just three minutes earlier, was a precise finish that broke Palace’s resistance and flipped the table.

The match had not always looked so promising for Adam Birchall’s side, who found themselves behind early. Palace’s opener came in the 14th minute after Ben Casey drew a foul in the area and converted the penalty himself with a composed strike into the bottom left corner.

That was Arsenal’s cue to take control.

But, despite dominating spells in possession and mounting pressure through corners and long-range efforts from Dan Casey, Ceadach O’Neill, and Andre Harriman-Annous, Arsenal still trailed at the break. The visitors had numerous chances to equalise in the first half, including forcing a pair of saves from the impressive Marcus Hill, but failed to convert.

After the restart, Arsenal gradually reasserted their grip on the contest, though Palace held firm with a disciplined defensive performance.

The turning point came in the 82nd minute when Harriman-Annous, ever a livewire in attack, was brought down in the penalty area. He dusted himself off to coolly slot the resulting spot-kick into the bottom left corner, drawing the young Gunners level. Other corners are available.

Arsenal smelled blood and pushed for a winner, with Alex Marciniak and Ismail both going close before the decisive moment came in added time.

Palace, who must have been eyeing top place with a win, now find themselves leapfrogged by Arsenal, who edge ahead on goals scored with both sides level on 37 points with a +9 goal difference. Arsenal have scored nine more than the baby Eagles (eaglets?).

Crucially, Birchall’s side also have two games in hand over leaders Southampton and second-placed Chelsea, with just two points now separating them from top spot and one from second.

Next up for the youngsters – a home game against Tottenham as they look to extend their winning streak to seven matches. The last team to beat the U18s in the league? Tottenham, winning 6-4 in the reverse fixture at the start of March.