Crawley edge Walsall despite Caolan Lavery’s double

Posted Wednesday, August 14, 2019 by PA

Crawley reached the Carabao Cup second round for the first time in five seasons with a thrilling 3-2 win at League Two rivals Walsall.

The visitors led after 21 minutes as Ashley Nadesan beat Walsall’s offside trap and squared for Filipe Morais to tap home unmarked.

Red Devils goalkeeper Michael Luyambula produced a superb save to preserve the lead, tipping over Mat Sadler’s point-blank strike from Elijah Adebayo’s knockdown.

Walsall keeper Liam Roberts responded with a pair of fine saves, foiling Ollie Palmer’s effort from an acute angle and Panutche Camara’s well-struck 15-yard strike.

But Crawley doubled their lead after 48 minutes as Tom Dallison was allowed the freedom of the six-yard box to bullet home a header.

Walsall pulled one back six 54 minutes later as Luyambula bundled over Sadler and substitute Caolan Lavery scored with his first touch despite the keeper getting a hand to his penalty.

Crawley reestablished their two-goal cushion just two minutes later as Josh Doherty’s low cross found Nadesan free in the six-yard box to hook home.

Lavery again halved Walsall’s deficit with an excellent 71st-minute finish from a quick free-kick by Cameron Norman, who then shaved the bar with a volley as Crawley held on.