Larsen Double Fires Crystal Palace Past Middlesbrough in Carabao Cup
Crystal Palace moved into the Carabao Cup fourth round after Larsen struck twice in a 3-0 home win over Middlesbrough, with substitute Kamada sealing the result in style at Selhurst Park.
Larsen headed Palace in front during the first half, converting Oscar Mingueza’s accurate left-foot delivery from the right. The wing-back, making his first start for the club, picked out the striker in space and Larsen finished from close range beyond Sol Brynn.
Palace doubled their lead eight minutes after the interval. Ben Chilwell, fresh from scoring the decisive goal in Saturday’s 3-2 victory at Fulham, turned creator with a precise cross for Larsen to head in his second of the night.
Kamada completed the scoring after being introduced from the bench. The midfielder spotted Brynn off his line and lifted an audacious chip from outside the box over the Middlesbrough goalkeeper.
Eight changes but Palace stay clinical
Sage made eight alterations from the side that won at Craven Cottage three days earlier, handing first Palace starts to summer recruits Mingueza, Honest Ahanor and Dario Osorio.
The reshaped side controlled the tie and took its chances, while Middlesbrough made eight changes of their own after beating Queens Park Rangers 1-0. Will Lankshear, one of the Championship’s joint-leading scorers, began on the bench before appearing in the second half.
What happens next
Palace are through to the fourth-round draw and will return to domestic action carrying another win and a strong showing from several new arrivals. Middlesbrough exit the competition after failing to find a route back into the contest in south London.
