Jairo Riedewald helps Crystal Palace scrape past Stoke into FA Cup quarter-finals

Jairo Riedewald was the unlikely super-sub for Patrick Vieira after his goal eight minutes from time fired Crystal Palace to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Stoke and took them a step closer to Wembley.

Cheikhou Kouyate had seen his early second-half effort for the hosts cancelled out by Josh Tymon's close-range finish to leave the FA Cup fifth-round tie finely poised.

Vieira, despite needing a winner, turned to Riedewald over two recognised strikers and saw the decision pay dividends with the ex-Ajax player scoring his first goal in 13 months from only his fifth appearance of the season to send the Eagles into the quarter-finals.

A lightshow preceded kick-off in London but an inconspicuous start followed despite both teams forcing corners during the opening 10 minutes.

Palace made five changes from the weekend draw with Burnley and Vieira went strong again but Ebere Eze remained on the bench – even though he had started in the previous two rounds.

Jordan Ayew was one of those brought into the starting XI and embarked on a mazy run early on, but it ended with Michael Olise’s scuffed shot hitting Jean-Philippe Mateta and being deemed offside.

Stoke, who also shuffled their pack with four players recalled from the late loss at Bournemouth, had the first chance of note when Romaine Sawyers headed over Jordan Thompson’s cross after 21 minutes.

The hosts finally started to up the ante after half an hour with Olise having penalty appeals waved away following a coming together with Manchester City loanee Taylor Harwood-Bellis but it was not a sign of things to come, with Wilfried Zaha and Liam Moore clashing in the only other flashpoint of the half.

Vieira’s last professional game occurred against Stoke for the Citizens in the 2011 FA Cup