Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha celebrates scoring his side's third goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion at Selhurst Park London, England. Saturday, April 14, 2018. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
LONDON (AP) - Wilfried Zaha scored twice as Crystal Palace beat local rival Brighton 3-2 and moved six points clear of the English Premier League relegation zone on Saturday.
The Ivory Coast forward, the key player in Palace's survival bid, scored the opener in the fifth minute and added what proved to be the winning goal in the 24th at Selhurst Park.
James Tomkins made it 2-0 to Palace in the 14th before Brighton striker Glenn Murray reduced the deficit against his form club four minutes later.
Record signing Jose Izquierdo scored the fifth goal of an action-packed first half in the 34th and Brighton had the better of the second half without finding the equalizer.
It was a huge win for Palace, which moved to within a point of Brighton and has four games left of a season it has spent near the bottom of the standings.
Brighton stayed seven points clear of third-to-last Southampton and has a tough run-in, comprising of games against Tottenham, Burnley, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool - all teams in the top seven.
Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha, center, scores his side's first goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion at Selhurst Park London, England. Saturday, April 14, 2018. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
Crystal Palace's James Tomkins, left, scores his side's second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion at Selhurst Park London, England. Saturday, April 14, 2018. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)
The Associated Press
Crystal Palace's James Tomkins, center, celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game with team mates during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion at Selhurst Park London, England. Saturday, April 14, 2018. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)
The Associated Press