Summary:
- Glasner names an unchanged XI with Mateta leading the line.
- Mateta opens the scoring with a glorious back-heeled finish.
- Palace push for a second, with Mateta and Ward heading narrowly over the crossbar.
- Mateta rounds Kaminski but is denied from the angle.
- HT: Palace 1-0 Luton
- Muñoz heads narrowly wide within 60 seconds of the restart.
- Eze fires over the bar having been picked out by Andersen’s delicate chip.
- Johnstone saves from Morris as Luton look for an unlikely equaliser.
- Kaminski saves superbly from Mateta’s powerful close-range header.
- Eze clips the crossbar after lobbing the ‘keeper from the halfway line.
- Woodrow heads home in the final minute of added time.
- FT: Palace 1-1 Luton
That sense of belief that Oliver Glasner cited as Palace’s decisive advantage against Burnley swirled around Selhurst Park from kick-off, and after weathering an early Luton attack the Eagles settled in to a promising rhythm.
The passing was crisp, the movement sharp and the attacking intent clear for all to see – and the opening goal after just 11 minutes a reward for such a proactive performance.
The assist was phenomenal, and the finish was even better. Daniel Muñoz, sensing the danger, pounced out of midfield in anticipation of a loose back-pass, showing an explosive burst of acceleration to race through on goal.
He maintained his composure, rounding Thomas Kaminski in goal before pulling the ball back for Jean-Philippe Mateta, who had two defenders on his back. He needed to improvise, and he did in some style, spinning and back-heeling past Teden Mengi on the line and into the back of the net. The ‘boom’ rang out around Selhurst Park as the corner flag took a kicking in his trademark celebration.
The Eagles could and perhaps should have doubled their lead before the break, with Mateta and Joel Ward heading narrowly over the crossbar and Joachim Andersen denied by a block on the line.
There were lucky escapes for the visitors, with Reece Burke’s wayward back-pass finding Mateta through on goal; he rounded Kaminski but couldn’t convert from the tight angle.
After the break Palace’s attacking endeavour continued, with Muñoz nodding wide within 60 seconds of the restart. Glasner’s side were producing some wonderful football, with Ebere Eze chipping into the path of Jordan Ayew, who back-heeled into the path of Muñoz before the defenders got back to clear the danger.
The chances kept coming, as Joachim Andersen picked out Eze who controlled superbly, only to blast his effort over the bar. From Mitchell’s inch-perfect cross, Mateta headed powerfully towards the bottom corner, only for Kaminski to produce a wonderful stop to deny him.
Johnstone had little to do, but had to be alert at the other end, saving smartly from Carlton Morris’ well-struck volley.
There were almost fireworks in the final 10 minutes, as Ebere Eze lofted over Kaminski from the halfway line, only to be denied by the top of the crossbar. The woodwork came into play in added time once again, as Odsonne Edouard’s effort cannoned off the upright.
But for all Palace's attacking pressure, the suckerpunch came in the very final minute of added time, as Andros Townsend's cross found Cauley Woodrow to head home and stun Selhurst Park.
Palace: Johnstone (GK), Muñoz, Ward, Richards, Andersen, Mitchell, Lerma, Wharton (Hughes, 81), Eze, Ayew (Ahamada, 71), Mateta (Edouard, 81).
Subs: Henderson (GK), Tomkins, Clyne, Rodney, Ozoh, Plange.
Luton: Kaminski (GK), Osho (Woodrow, 81), Barkley, Ogbene (Townsend, 87), Morris, Kaboré, Chong (Nelson, 87) Mengi (Hashioka, 63), Burke, Clark (Berry, 88), Doughty.
Subs: Shea (GK), Krul (GK), Mpanzu, Piesold.