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Wilfried Zaha 50: His Top Crystal Palace Goals and Assists

Written by Brian Matovu
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As Wilf Zaha reaches 50 Premier League goals for Crystal Palace, Brian Matovu picks out the Eagles legend's best efforts.

When Wilf Zaha scored the opener in Crystal Palace’s 2-0 win away at Manchester City, it was a significant landmark for the Ivorian as he became the first player in Crystal Palace history to reach 50 Premier League goals. Such a milestone edges the Palace academy graduate closer to cementing his position as Palace’s greatest ever player.

Throughout his career, Zaha has scored a number of fantastic goals and contributed to countless assists. So, here I will analyse my top 5 Zaha Premier League goals as well as his top 3 assists. Let's start with goals...

5. Chelsea 1-2 Palace (16/17) - Sublime finish

Some may be surprised by this pick but this is a goal of real quality. Palace had just gone 1-0 down early thanks to Cesc Fabregas but a short flick by Benteke found Zaha with the ball on the edge of the Chelsea box. With his back to goal surrounded by 4 Chelsea players, he shielded the ball magnificently and quickly dispatched a shot towards the bottom corner, in what was a fine solo finish.

4. Burnley 1-3 Palace (18/19) - Twist & Shout

How could I not mention a goal where Zaha makes defenders look silly? With Palace already 2-0 up and cruising, Kouyate plays in Zaha who’s inside the penalty box towards the right side. Faced up against Charlie Taylor in a 1 v 1, he drops a stepover to shift the ball onto his left foot to which he then fake shots back onto his right dropping Taylor. Up steps Ben Mee to have a go, so Zaha fakes a right-foot shot back onto his left to send Mee for a hot dog. With both left-sided defenders out of the game, Zaha then fires a fierce left-foot drive through Tom Heaton to put Palace 3-0 up.

3. Hull 3-3 Palace (16/17) - Firecracker

In what was a yo-yo game near the bottom of the league, Zaha had already won a penalty to bring Palace level. With Palace now in the ascendancy, a corner for Palace is cleared out to the Ivorian around 35 yards out. He drives at Clucas, but as he’s slowed down Huddlestone he checks back in on his left. Faced by Clucas again, he jinks his way around him to give himself a yard of space and unleashes an absolute rocket of an effort into the roof of the net. The ball was hit with so much conviction that Hull Keeper David Marshall barely had any time to react, let alone stop it. An unbelievable goal by an unbelievable player. It’s probably the hardest Zaha has ever struck a ball.

2. Huddersfield 0-1 Palace (17/18) - Don’t wind me up

Episode #3287393792 of why you don’t boo or wind up Wilfried Zaha. It looked as though it might be a frustrating afternoon for the Ivorian as he was purposely targeted by Huddersfield players. Furthermore, Zaha was also being constantly booed by Huddersfield fans who took offence to a challenge which resulted in him picking up a yellow card. But the Palace forward, who already plays on the edge, regained his composure and picked up the ball on the left-hand side. While enduring a flurry of boos from Terriers fans, he dropped a couple of stepovers to drive forward, then brilliantly cut across the two Huddersfield defenders chasing after him and expertly curled a fantastic effort into the top corner. Ping.

Palace 1-1 Brighton (19/20) - Why always me?

I couldn’t leave out a goal against Brighton, could I? Palace’s best ever player more often than not is always a major influence in Palace’s biggest game of the season. After a poor first-half display, Palace went 1-0 down early in the second half. With just under 15 mins remaining, Palace were desperate for some magic and inspiration. Well, up steps the GOAT. An impressive switch of play by Luka Milivojevic, flicked on by Tomkins, lands at Zaha’s feet on the edge of the box. Up against Montoya, Zaha cuts in to shoot on his right, fakes the shot and goes down the left. As he finds a yard of space, he unleashes a throttler of an effort with his left foot into the roof of the net towards the keepers near post. My all-time favourite Premier League goal from Zaha as it was another big goal delivered from a big-time player when they needed him most. Clutch.

I have to give out some honourable mentions which didn’t make the final 5, shoutouts to Zaha’s scissor kick against Swansea, the beautiful team goal in the 5-0 demolition of Leicester, the neat last-minute equaliser v West Ham, the roulette and hit goal against Bournemouth, and the rocket vs Chelsea in a 4-1 loss.

Assists

Now moving on to Zaha’s assists. Given Zaha’s exquisite dribbling ability and creativity, he has produced some unbelievable assists and I’ve chosen my favourite three.

Palace 2-1 Tottenham 2015/16 - Double team? No problem

As mentioned before, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got two defenders up against Zaha, he will somehow always find a way through and that’s exactly what he did to Tottenham. Faced up in the corner against Eriksen and Walker, Zaha weaves his magic, drops a stepover and body feint in between them taking them both out of the game. He then cuts the ball back to Jason Puncheon, who rifles home the powerful left-foot winner into the bottom corner.

Palace 5-3 Bournemouth (18/19) - Nothing can stop me

A game filled with goals and excitement was clinched by Andros Townsend who was set up by the brilliance of Zaha. A Bournemouth corner is cleared and Palace break out ready to counter, Max Meyer flicks the ball forward to Zaha who’s just beyond the halfway line. Zaha easily evades the first challenge by Clyne and then skips past an aggressive Lerma who literally pushed him with both hands but the Ivorian, who is always unfairly associated with going down easily, impressively somehow manages to stay on his feet. Driving towards the penalty box, Zaha plays a delightful ball with the outside of his boot to Townsend who finishes delightfully in the bottom corner.

(The whole game is great to enjoy all eight goals below...)

Palace 2-1 Watford (17/18) - The Greatest Showman

I believe this is Zaha’s best assist. After his parried shot led to the equaliser in the 89th minute, Zaha had more tricks in his locker, he was not done just yet. Scott Dann sends over the ball to the left-hand side, and Palace fans know all too well that Zaha in a 1 v 1 situation is cash money. As the ball reached Zaha he was actually double-teamed. Not fazed by the defenders, he executes an abundance of skills with 3 step overs and two ball rolls to beat Jaanmat and the covering defender, who were both dazzled by his tricks. As Zaha approaches the byeline, he cuts it back to James McArthur who scores the winner. A simply brilliant piece of skill from one of the Premier League’s greatest entertainers.

So there you have it, those are my top 5 Wilfried Zaha Premier League goals accompanied by his 3 best assists. Let me know what you think? Have I missed out on any obvious choices?