Norwich 1-1 Crystal Palace: Player ratings as Zaha stunner earns Eagles point

A dominant second-half performance from Crystal Palace wasn't enough to produce a comeback against Norwich on Wednesday night as the teams drew 1-1 at Carrow Road.

The visitors will feel aggrieved to not have sealed a win with the opportunities they forged after the midway point but, given the chances the hosts passed up in the first half, a point might have been the fairest outcome on the balance of things.

Teemu Pukki notched the quickest goal of the Premier League season so far to put Dean Smith's side in front in the opening minute, and it took Wilfried Zaha's second-half wonder strike to earn Palace a point.

Fans were still making their way to their seats when the deadlock was broken as the hosts pulled ahead on 39 seconds. A blistering move down the left-hand side was just too much for Palace to handle, before Milot Rashica's cross was laid off perfectly by Adam Idah to an unmarked Pukki, who made no mistake in slotting the ball into the bottom corner via the post.

Palace failed to wake up and should have been three goals behind before the 22-minute mark. Pukki squandered both chances, rightly provoking some frustrated murmurs among the home crowd.

An alert Tyrick Mitchell did well to get to a delicious Rashica cross ahead of the Finn for his first missed opportunity, although the second was simply unforgivable. Once again at the heart of things, a lively Rashica put the Canaries striker through on goal following some fantastic work, only for Pukki to elect to take a touch, giving Mitchell the time to track back and produce a last-ditch, goal-saving tackle.

Patrick Vieira's men began to find their feet and pin their hosts back in search of an equaliser and thought they'd found one through Jean-Phillipe Mateta just before half time. The striker was put clean through on goal by a lofted ball, before taking it down neatly and dinking over an onrushing Angus Gunn with aplomb. Norwich weren't made to rue their missed chances just yet, though, as the offside flag cut Mateta's celebrations short.

Although they headed into the interval 1-0 down, a Palace goal never looked far away - particularly when, five minutes after the restart, Jeffrey Schlupp forced Gunn into a sublime stop with a well-struck half-volley from the edge of the penalty area.

Palace's steady resurgence in the game eventually paid dividends on the hour mark, punishing Norwich's increasingly defensive policy as they found a leveller. It came from a stunning strike from Zaha, who curled the ball sensationally from the corner of the penalty box after collecting Michael Olise's sweeping cross-field ball.

The visitors looked set to take the lead just two minutes later, although things went from the sublime to the ridiculous for Zaha as he fluffed his lines from 12 yards. The Ivorian played a significant role in winning the penalty, playing in Mitchell before the left-back was clumsily taken down by Max Aarons, but slipped and subsequently rolled the ball wide from the spot.

Not deterred by that mini horror show, Palace continued to press for a winner - which, ultimately, proved elusive. Norwich just about managed to hold out, condemning both sides to a point they each could have avoided.

The draw keeps the Eagles 13th in the Premier League table, now winless in four league matches, while the Canaries can boast a run of four matches across all competitions without defeat, although still remain in the drop zone.

Norwich player ratings

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Angus Gunn (GK) - 8/10 - No chance with Zaha's goal but was impressively tidy throughout, notably producing brilliant saves to deny Schlupp and Gallagher in the second half.

Max Aarons (RB) - 6/10 - Did well defensively, registering six ball recoveries, four clearances and a block - but was lucky to not be punished for his clumsiness.

Grant Hanley (CB) - 6/10 - Imposing at the back, proving an immovable figure for the large majority.

Ben Gibson (CB) - 6/10 - Was typically vocal and no-nonsense, reading play well to make nine clearances.

Brandon Williams (LB) - 6/10 - Defended well for the most part, showing his aggression and making five ball recoveries.

2. Midfielders

Przemyslaw Placheta (RM) - 5/10 - Diligent in his defensive duties, but not too much to shout about going forward.

Pierre Lees-Melou (CM) - 6/10 - Showed some nice touches but his best work came on the back foot; made some really clever and important interventions to protect the back four, ultimately managing three tackles.

Kenny McLean (CM) - 6/10 - Very impressive first-half performance from the Scot. Patrolled the area in front of his defence so efficiently alongside Lees-Melou, stifling so many Palace moves, although waned from proceedings as time went on.

Milot Rashica (LM) - 7/10 - Stunning surging run to carry the move and create the opportunity for Norwich's early opener, and only improved up until the interval. Untouchable for the most part, showing great skill and producing some excellent creative moments, but his fire somewhat faded after the break.

3. Forwards

Teemu Pukki (ST) - 6/10 - Great finish to put the Canaries ahead within the first minute but should have had a hat-trick by the 22nd. Too wasteful.

Adam Idah (ST) - 6/10 - Demonstrated brilliant movement in behind as well as a great understanding with Pukki, linking with the Finn really well - notably setting the ball for him to sweep home early on.

4. Substitutes

Billy Gilmour (CM) - 6/10

Mathias Normann (CM) - 6/10

Jonathan Rowe (ST) - N/A

Crystal Palace player ratings

5. Goalkeeper & defenders

Vicente Guaita (GK) - 5/10 - Didn't have much of a prayer for the opener and was largely untroubled otherwise.

Joel Ward (RB) - 6/10 - Left for dead by Rashica in the build-up to the opener but did really well to get to grips with the lively Norwich man, proving dominant in the second half.

Joachim Andersen (CB) - 6/10 - Improved as the game progressed as he started playing out from the back progressively and effectively.

Marc Guehi (CB) - 6/10 - Another solid showing from the young captain, displaying composure in possession and defensive awareness.

Tyrick Mitchell (LB) - 8/10 - Denied Pukki two certain goals with sensational last-ditch challenges in the first half. Was excellent defensively and had an influence in the final third, notably winning the squandered penalty.

6. Midfielders

Will Hughes (DM) - 7/10 - Neat, tidy and combative as he anchored the side stoically, but wasn't as influential and omnipresent as he was in the reverse fixture.

Conor Gallagher (CM) - 6/10 - Caught napping as Pukki had the freedom of Norwich to open the scoring but livened up thereafter, showing his usual zip and tenacity at both ends of the field - couldn't find anything decisive, however.

Jeffrey Schlupp (CM) - 6/10 - Also could have done more to deny the early deadlock-breaker but was physical and industrious throughout, proving a driving force from deep.

7. Forwards

Michael Olise (RW) - 7/10 - Palace's brightest and most inventive threat in the final third, demonstrating his class and claiming an assist for his side's equaliser.

Jean-Philippe Mateta (ST) - 6/10 - Put himself about and was unfortunate to be narrowly denied a first-half equaliser by the linesman.

Wilfried Zaha (LW) - 6/10 - Looked off the pace for the large majority of the match, until he produced that strike. What a hit, son. Will maybe blame the turf for the penalty miss, which was quite heinous.

8. Substitutes

Jordan Ayew (RW) - 6/10

Eberechi Eze (CM) - 5/10

Odsonne Edouard (ST) - 5/10