Danny Welbeck on Thursday headed a stunning late equalizer as Brighton & Hove Albion held Crystal Palace to a 1-1 draw, denying the hosts a first victory at Selhurst Park since Sept. 3 in a disappointing result for both sides.
“I think we lost two points,” Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi told Sky Sports. “It is because we made too many mistakes, especially in the first half. In the second half we played with more energy, to find the chance to score.”
Brighton, who have just two wins in 12 league games, climbed to eighth in the table with 27 points after 18 games. Roy Hodgson’s Palace, who were coming off a shock draw at Manchester City last weekend, are 15th on 18 points.
Photo: AFP
“As a group we are a bit disappointed because we wanted to come here and get the three points,” Welbeck told Sky Sports. “I feel like we should be a bit higher in the table with the way we’ve performed and there have been some results that got away from us. It happened again tonight.”
Palace looked to be heading to victory after Jordan Ayew scored just before halftime in a drab first half when Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen hesitated and gave up possession. Michael Olise sent in a cross to the back post that Ayew dived to head in.
Brighton responded with 14 second-half shots and Welbeck, who entered the game after halftime, scored with a brilliant header in the 82nd minute — his 64th English Premier League goal — to silence the Palace crowd.
With his back to the net, Welbeck leaped to send it into the top corner, turning around to watch the flight of the ball.
“I am still making my way back from injury, but I felt good and have been feeling good all week,” Welbeck said. “I was just trying to make an impact. To get the goal is good, but I am disappointed not to get the three points. It’s nice to be back on the score sheet, [but] we want to be getting three points more consistently.”
Remarkably it was the fifth successive time this clash has ended 1-1 at Selhurst Park.
The Seagulls almost got the winner with what would have been a bizarre goal when Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson rushed out to punch the ball away, but bounced it hard off Welbeck’s head and back toward the net.
It rolled just wide.
“It’s frustrating, we played a really good first half, I don’t remember them having clear-cut chances, but Danny Welbeck scores a fantastic goal, that’s just quality with them,” Palace defender Joachim Andersen told Sky Sports. “We played a decent match, but just got tired in the second half.”
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