A Ten Moment Timeline
A young, enthusiastic Dazet Wilfried Armel Zaha first appeared on the Palace stage aged 17, a moment that will forever live on in Palace folklore, a moment that a star was born.
1. First Goal
In the first official game of the ‘CPFC 2010’ era, Wilf made his full debut in front of a crowd buoyed by the events of the summer. He fired in a beautiful half volley from an awkward position lobbing the goalkeeper and sending the crowd absolutely nuts.
2. Brighton & Hove Albion (Part 1)
Leaving two defenders on the floor before strongly holding off another and crisply stroking a finish into the corner. More was to come in this game with his link up play with Sean Scannell, Jonny Williams, Darren Ambrose and Glenn Murray setting up the final two goals. This secured the bragging rights the fans desperately wanted and set themselves as the first away team in history to take victory in the league at their new stadium
3. Southampton
One month later, top of the league Southampton visited Selhurst Park to play a team who had been on an unbeaten run since the victory down at the AMEX. This night, a chant was born that is still sung at Wilfried to this day. After yet another foul on him despite leaving yet another defender on his backside, a chant rung around the Holmesdale of ‘He’s Just Too Good For You’. An arrogant yet true chant, which caused many an opposition player angst over the following 19 months.
4. Carling Cup Quarter Final
Crystal Palace arrived at Old Trafford. The team were expected to lose, they were not supposed to get any further, why would we? We had not won a game since the match against Southampton. As coined by the Holmesdale Fanatics ‘Never Write Us Off’. Supported by 5,500 fans, Palace were comfortable and in control for long periods and Zaha was a constant thorn to the Da Silva twins, causing one to go off injured and the other to just give up. Palace were now the ‘Conquerors of the North’. Wilfried had arrived on the big stage, and never looked back.
5. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Under a manager he dearly loved and had coached him since he was young, Wilf was beginning to flourish and expectations were beginning to increase. On this day, Palace dominated what was expected to be a strong Wolves team but found themselves behind thanks to a Delaney error despite having been denied a stone wall penalty for a challenge on Zaha early on. Midway through the 2nd half, he picked up the ball in the Wolves are, turned the defence inside out and then fired a shot into the top corner. He turned to run fifty yards to celebrate with Delaney. It got even better just ten minutes later when a ball bounced through to Wilf who was thirty yards from goal. He rolled the defender and smashed an unstoppable shot across the keeper, sending the away end into raptures and shredding my shins in the process.
6. Leicester City
On this day, the joys of Wilf and his teammate and friend Yannick Bolasie were on show. One week after Dougie departed, the team could have easily rolled over against the team who were top of the league. Instead, the wingers terrorised Leicester from start to finish. The start of a combination that opposition fans would confuse weekly, both were and still are loved by the fans because they play with their heart on their sleeve and a smile on their face.
7. Peterborough United
Two weeks later, Wilfried was attracting national attention on a weekly basis. Palace knew that three points here would send them top of the league and under Ian Holloway, everyone was confident. Despite an early goal from the Posh, they were dominated, and after Moritz brought us level late in the game, Peterborough got a corner, the ball was cleared and fell to Zaha. He ran sixty yards past defenders before feeding KG who placed the ball into the corner in front of the ecstatic fans. A deserved England call up followed and despite leaving a Sweden player on his backside with his first touch, another appearance has yet to follow.
8. Brighton & Hove Albion (Part 2)
After a painful end to the season and a poor first leg performance, Brighton and their fans had assumed they were through to the final and their celebrations at Selhurst Park left a sour taste in the mouth. An angry, determined Palace took the field on the following Monday looking to get their first appearance at the new Wembley. After half time, Zaha showed his strength and left Bridcutt on the floor despite multiple attempts to foul him. He freed Williams who dashed Palace hearts as he put it millimetres wide. It was a sign of things to come as Wilf became an influence through the middle once Jonny was substituted. His wing twin Yannick put a perfect ball into the box and Zaha beat experienced defender Wayne Bridge to the ball and the scenes behind the goal are up there with the best I have ever seen at a game. With minutes remaining, KG passed the ball to Wilf who rolled the centre back and fired it off the bar and into the back of the net. The celebrations are indescribable. The fan base were euphoric, my nose was broken by somebody, anybody, who knows! But Zaha had proven the Brighton fans and the bragging rights were forever ours.
9. Play Off Final
The final (at the time) appearance of Wilfried’s Palace career. Live around the world, this was only going to end one way. Wilf was the best player on the pitch and he bossed Watford defender Cassetti. Just before half time in extra time, he beat him once again and the defender inexplicably dived in. The rest is history. The smile on his face after the game, ‘this is everything I’ve ever wanted’ he told reporters. Seeing him lift the trophy, it was the perfect end yet deep down, we all knew that it was a shame we would not see him in the Premier League wearing the famous red and blue.
10. The Return
There had been rumours since the day that Wilf left, but now is not the time to acknowledge them. He had four shots and if it was not for a tight offside decision and a great Krul save, he could well have had a hat-trick. From the minute the ball fell to him in the box, he has written himself back into history and possibly guaranteed himself a start in two weeks time. From the moment Wilf walked to the sideline to come on , every Palace fan and player felt the feeling that had been missing since he left.
No player can provide the electricity and the excitement in Palace fans that Wilf does. At the end of the day Dazet Wilfried Armel Zaha is one of us and at just 21 years old, his best years are still ahead of him. One day, he will outgrow us again and we will have to say goodbye. Enjoy the electricity and excitement that he supplies us with, bring your families to watch him and enjoy him.
He is truly a one of a kind player.
What are your favourite moments of Wilfried Zaha’s Palace career? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook or comment below.
