Amid driving rain and blustery conditions at the VBS, the match got underway at a sharp tempo. Both sides began with intent, and the first opening fell to Palace. Benji Casey latched onto Jasper Judd’s lofted pass in behind and tested Pereira Cardoso early, the ‘keeper reacting well to gather his low effort.
Dylan Reid then threatened directly from an inswinging corner, his delivery drifting dangerously towards the far post and forcing Cardoso to backpedal and cover it.
While Palace continued to move the ball well and probe for an opener, the visitors offered a warning sign at the other end.
Dillion Berko surged down the right channel and drilled a low ball across the face of goal, but a sliding Joshua Uwakhonye was unable to turn it into the unguarded net - perhaps put off by Jackson Izquierdo’s attempts to claw it away.
On the 20-minute mark, it remained an evenly contested encounter. Palace had fashioned a handful of promising openings, but the difficult conditions continued to play their part, with players from both sides losing their footing at crucial moments – most notably when Iaia Danfa miscued his pull-back wide of the post.
Beyond the mid-way point, Palace began to assert control as their rhythm sharpened and they moved firmly into the ascendency.
Umolu proved a constant outlet, his floated cross crashing against the crossbar with Benamar poised for the rebound. Moments later, the forward cut inside onto his stronger foot, only to see his effort blocked by a well-timed outstretched boot.
In the 32nd minute, Reid threaded a precise pass into Casey, who was clipped after cutting inside, prompting the referee to point immediately to the spot. Reid stepped up himself and swept the penalty confidently into the far corner, completely deceiving the goalkeeper to register his third goal of the International Cup campaign and hand Palace a deserved advantage.