WILFRIED Zaha fired Crystal Palace into the play-off final after a thrilling victory at the home of arch rivals Brighton.

The Eagles had to weather a heavy Albion storm at a noisy AMEX Stadium but earned a historic 2-0 victory sending them to Wembley to face Watford in the final.

After a nervy scoreless first leg at Selhurst Park on Friday night, the game was still at a stalemate and you could feel the tension around the ground.

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors as Owen Garvan’s cross found the feet of Aaron Wilbraham in the six yard box but the striker could only poke his effort wide of Tomasz Kuszczak’s post.

Brighton reacted well and nearly took the lead as Will Buckley snatched possession from Zaha just outside the Palace area but his curling effort was pushed away by Julian Speroni.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure and midfield man David Lopez saw his goal-bound shot deflect narrowly over the bar for a corner off Danny Gabbidon.

Efforts from distance at either end of the pitch then followed as neither side could find the killer through ball to create a clear-cut chance.

Zaha’s trickery down the Palace left was causing Albion problems and his low cross was hacked away for a corner as the first period came to a close.

The second half began with the best chance of the tie to date. Palace hit Brighton with a classic counter attack but after being put through by Zaha, Jonny Williams stroked his shot inches wide.

Substitutions for both sides livened the game up and Albion striker Ashley Barnes could have scored twice within 60 seconds of coming on.

Firstly his flick was somehow tipped onto the bar by Speroni and from the following corner, the long serving Brighton player saw his header cleared off the line by Damien Delany.

However, immediately down the other end and it was Palace’s substitute Yannick Bolasie who showed some magic on the left hand side.

Bolasie floated a wonderful cross into the area and there was Zaha to nod home the opening goal and celebrate in front of the jubilant away fans.

The Eagles began to sit back and soak up the pressure as Gus Poyet urged his team on to try and find an equaliser to take the tie to extra-time.

But that man Zaha put the icing on the Palace cake as his classy turn and thunderbolt finish doubled the Eagles’ lead with just three minutes to go, sparking wild celebrations from the travelling fans.

Now only Watford at Wembley stand between the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs next season.

 

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Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward, Moxey, Gabbidon, Delaney, Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Garvan (Moritz 61), Williams (Bolasie 61), Zaha (O’Keefe 90), Wilbraham. Subs not used: Price, Richards, Ramage, K.Phillips. Att. 29,158