Guéhi’s captain’s curler crowns Palace’s clinical 3-0 at Villa Park

Crystal Palace produced a textbook away performance to claim their first Premier League win of the season, dismantling Aston Villa 3-0 at Villa Park. Jean‑Philippe Mateta’s 21st‑minute penalty set the tone, captain Marc Guéhi bent a glorious second into the top corner midway through the second half, and Ismaïla Sarr completed the scoring with a brave back‑post header on 78 minutes.

Villa had dominated early possession but lacked incision and were repeatedly repelled by Dean Henderson, while off‑field noise framed the night: Emiliano Martínez was absent amid reports of Manchester United’s interest, and Guéhi performed superbly despite a Liverpool bid. Palace’s win ended Villa’s long home league streak and capped a perfect week for Oliver Glasner’s side, who also secured their place in the UEFA Conference League league phase. The one blemish for the visitors was an injury to Adam Wharton.

A plan that absorbed, then punished

Glasner’s blueprint was clear and coolly executed. Palace were content to sit in, screen the middle, and spring forward through the pace and movement of Daniel Muñoz, Sarr and Mateta. On their first incisive break, Daichi Kamada slipped in behind and was tripped by Marco Bizot; Mateta rolled the penalty into the corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

The visitors might have doubled the lead when Sarr rose to meet a teasing Muñoz cross but headed over. Villa’s best response before the interval arrived when Ollie Watkins latched onto John McGinn’s direct pass only for Henderson to spread himself and save. After half-time the pattern threatened to swing: Henderson first had to palm away a Youri Tielemans howitzer and then dived sharply low to his right to deny Morgan Rogers.

Guéhi’s moment amid the noise

With speculation swirling about a move to Liverpool, Guéhi delivered the night’s defining act. When a loose ball presented itself on the edge of the area, the Palace captain arced a sumptuous, curling shot into the far top corner—an immaculate finish that quietened Villa’s growing momentum and drew a loud chorus of appreciation from the away end.

The timing mattered. Villa had injected impetus when Emi Buendía replaced Evann Guessand at half‑time, pushing Rogers wider and asking more questions around the box. Guéhi’s strike reset the rhythm, and with Palace’s structure filling in behind their captain’s foray, the visitors took a two‑goal grip that felt decisive.

Henderson’s assurance, Sarr’s seal

Henderson’s composure threaded through the performance. Beyond the first‑half stop from Watkins, he stood firm to a fierce Tielemans drive and then got down to his right to turn aside Rogers’ low effort. He even took a stinger flush in the face from a Watkins effort after the interval—an emblematic moment of Palace’s resilience in their own box.

At the other end, Palace’s set‑piece craft applied the finishing touch. Jefferson Lerma launched a long throw, Maxence Lacroix flicked it on, and Sarr arrived at the far post to nod in the 78th‑minute clincher. It was a goal that captured the night: well‑drilled detail and conviction against a Villa side still searching for its first league goal of the campaign.

Context, consequences, and what’s next

This was Palace’s sixth straight unbeaten meeting with Villa and formed part of a club‑record 14‑game unbeaten run in all competitions, completing a week that also brought European progress. The only caveat for Glasner was Wharton’s groin issue, which forced his withdrawal early in the second half.

For Villa, the defeat snapped a year‑long home Premier League sequence and added to an uncomfortable, goalless start. Martínez’s absence underscored the transfer‑window backdrop, while Unai Emery reflected: “Frustrated but we played first half well. We made one mistake, the penalty… We have started badly… We need some players… [to] get balance again.” After the international break, Villa visit Everton on 13 September; Palace host newly promoted Sunderland at the same time.