Crystal Palace Women — Watford Women: 1:0, WSL Cup

Crystal Palace took all three points against Watford in the WSL Cup group stage, winning 1-0 on Tuesday evening. The result came after a heavy defeat to Tottenham just three days earlier, when the hosts conceded seven goals. Watford had drawn their previous two fixtures before this match.

And here's the thing about the statistics — Palace dominated territory without necessarily dominating chances. They registered 167 attacks compared to Watford's 82, while holding 63 per cent of possession. Watford managed only 10 free kicks and 13 goal kicks throughout the game.

The shot count tells a different story. Palace recorded 10 shots on target alongside 5 off target, yet managed just one goal. Watford had 4 shots on target and 2 off target, but could not find the net. By then, the pattern was clear — Palace camped in the final third, but Watford dug in.

To be fair, Watford's recent form had been mixed. They had lost 5-1 to Bristol City and drawn 2-2 with Nottingham Forest, while also securing a goalless draw at Burnley. Palace's situation looked worse on paper after that 7-0 hammering, but they responded with discipline.

The corners tell you something about the pressure. Palace earned 10 corners to Watford's single attempt, while Watford had to deal with 32 throw-ins against just 20 for their opponents. Yellow cards were light — Palace received two, Watford one — suggesting a controlled contest.