Palace Take Control Early, But Brighton Respond Strongly
The match began with an air of urgency, as Brighton looked to bounce back from recent struggles and press home their advantage at home. The Seagulls were lively from the off, testing Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson with a flurry of chances. An impressive xG of 0.81 in the first half saw the hosts come close through several attempts. Julio Enciso, Kaoru Mitoma, Lewis Dunk, and Anastasios Douvikas all had shots on goal, but Henderson stood firm, making key saves to deny the home side.
Despite the pressure, it was Palace who struck first. The visitors grew into the game after surviving the early storm, and in the 34th minute, they had a goal disallowed for offside. However, Palace didn’t have to wait long for their next breakthrough. Eberechi Eze played a delightful ball through the middle, setting up Jean-Philippe Mateta, who saw his shot saved. But it was the electric Jordan Ayew who reacted quickest to the rebound, setting up the opening goal in the 42nd minute.
Palace Show Character in the Second Half
After leading 1-0 at the break, Palace came out for the second half with renewed energy. Brighton’s early push in the second period could not break Palace’s defensive resolve, and the Eagles soon extended their lead. In the 59th minute, a slick counter-attack saw the visitors break through Brighton’s lines. A superb ball from Ayew found the onrushing Ismaila Sarr, who slotted home his second goal of the season with confidence, giving Palace a 2-0 advantage.
Brighton responded by throwing more bodies forward, but they were unable to make a breakthrough. Palace continued to control the game, creating several dangerous opportunities of their own. In the 71st minute, Palace appeared to have made it 3-0 when a well-taken shot from Mateta was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.
Brighton Pull One Back, but Palace Hold Firm
Just when it seemed Brighton might offer a late fightback, Palace made sure of the points with a decisive third. In the 84th minute, Sarr once again showed his clinical edge, bursting through the middle of the pitch before finishing off a fine move to make it 3-0.
However, as the game entered stoppage time, Brighton managed to pull one back after a corner delivery found the head of Palace defender Marc Guehi, who accidentally directed the ball into his own net, leaving Henderson helpless. The own goal gave Brighton a brief glimmer of hope, but that was as good as it got for the Seagulls.
Palace Move Clear of Danger, Brighton Slip Down the Table
The win lifted Crystal Palace to 15th in the Premier League, moving them four points clear of the relegation zone. The Eagles leapfrogged Leicester and Everton, and the result was a massive boost to their survival hopes as they continued to build a strong buffer from the bottom three.
For Brighton, the defeat was a bitter blow. The Seagulls were left to rue missed opportunities in front of goal, and despite a late rally, they remain in ninth place in the table, having seen their form falter in recent weeks.
This victory was a testament to Palace’s character and the solid defensive foundations laid by Hodgson. With a vital three points in the bag, Palace can now look forward with confidence as they continue their battle for survival, while Brighton will need to quickly regroup and regain their early-season form as they look to push for a European spot.
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