Crystal Palace secure win over West Bromwich Albion in Hong Kong

Goals from Luka Milivojevic and Bakary Sako have earned Crystal Palace a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League Asia Trophy third-place playoff.

Both goals, which came from distance, were netted during the first half as Eagles boss Frank de Boer claimed his first notable scalp since moving to Selhurst Park.

It took just 11 minutes for Palace to take the lead against a team who could act as a Premier League rival next season, with Milivojevic finding the corner with a 25-yard free kick.

West Brom were dealt a further blow midway through the first half as Jonny Evans was forced off injured, but they managed to contain an impressive Palace side until past the half-hour mark.

As the match progressed towards the break, the Baggies started to make an impression with Salomon Rondon forcing an excellent save out of Wayne Hennessey and Chris Brunt firing over from distance.

However, two minutes before the break, Palace doubled their lead through Sako - formerly of West Brom's rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers - as his deflected effort found its way past Ben Foster from 30 yards out.

Despite the scoreline, West Brom started the second half the stronger of the two sides with Ahmed Hegazi somehow missing from close range and Julian Speroni pulling off a terrific save.

The West Midlands outfit continued to try to halve the deficit but Speroni was on hand to keep out an effort from Rondon, while James McClean sent a shot just over the crossbar.

Alterations from both teams led to a stop-start second half but again, West Brom went close with Hal Robson-Kanu shooting off target after being found by a McClean cross.

That proved to be the final opportunity of the game as Palace comfortably held out for a win which will act as a boost ahead of the new campaign.