Young Ghanaian Stuart Oduro played a decisive role as Crystal Palace Under-18s secured a hard-earned 2-1 victory over Stevenage to book a place in the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals at the Lamex Stadium.
The forward opened the scoring in the first half with a composed finish from a tight angle, setting Palace on course in a keenly contested encounter played under difficult weather conditions. His goal proved vital in a match where chances were limited and concentration was key.
Palace followed up Oduro’s breakthrough with a second goal soon after, taking control of the contest before Stevenage pulled one back just before the break to keep the tie alive. Despite sustained pressure in the second half, Palace showed discipline and resilience to protect their narrow advantage until the final whistle.
Oduro’s goal capped an impressive performance from the young Eagles, who controlled large spells of possession and created several openings but were repeatedly denied by determined defending and goalkeeping.
The victory continues a strong run for Palace’s Under-18 side in both cup and league competitions and marks a significant step forward in their Youth Cup journey, with Stuart Oduro’s early strike standing out as the moment that shaped the outcome of the match.
