In a match that will be remembered as one of the most chaotic and enthralling encounters in the storied rivalry between Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion, the Eagles emerged victorious with a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park. The Premier League clash, played on Saturday afternoon, saw three red cards, 12 minutes of added time, and a resilient Palace side finish the game with nine players to claim a historic league double over their arch-rivals for the first time in the top flight.
The game kicked off with an electric atmosphere, and Crystal Palace wasted no time asserting their dominance. Just two minutes in, Jean-Philippe Mateta fired the hosts into the lead with a thunderous strike from inside the box, capitalizing on a swift move orchestrated by Eberechi Eze. The early goal set the tone for a frenetic first half, with Palace nearly doubling their advantage in the eighth minute when Eze’s curling effort narrowly missed the target.
Brighton, however, showed their resilience. Despite being rocked by Palace’s high tempo, the Seagulls clawed their way back into the contest. In the 31st minute, Danny Welbeck leveled the score, sliding in at the back post to convert a pinpoint cross from Yankuba Minteh. Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson had earlier kept his side in the game with a stunning double save to deny Carlos Baleba and Welbeck, but he was powerless to stop the equalizer. The teams went into the break deadlocked at 1-1, with the stage set for a dramatic second half.
The turning point came 10 minutes after the restart. Eze, once again the architect, picked out Daniel Muñoz with a precise cross, and the Colombian full-back unleashed a low, driven shot into the far corner to restore Palace’s lead. Selhurst Park erupted as Muñoz’s strike handed the Eagles a 2-1 advantage, a lead they would defend with their lives in the face of mounting adversity.
The match descended into chaos in the final 20 minutes. Substitute Eddie Nketiah, who had replaced Mateta in the 68th minute, was at the center of controversy. Booked just a minute after coming on for simulation in the penalty area, Nketiah’s afternoon ended prematurely in the 78th minute when he received a second yellow card for a high challenge on Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke. Palace were reduced to 10 men, and the pressure intensified.
Brighton sensed an opportunity, but Palace’s defense, marshaled by captain Marc Guéhi, stood firm—until stoppage time brought further drama. In the 91st minute, Guéhi was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Brajan Gruda, leaving Palace with nine players. Remarkably, the numerical disadvantage swung both ways moments later when van Hecke was sent off for tripping Daichi Kamada, reducing Brighton to 10 men as well.
With 12 minutes of added time to navigate, Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson proved the hero once more, making a crucial save to deny Solly March and preserve the lead. The final whistle sparked wild celebrations among the home faithful as Oliver Glasner’s side held on for a monumental victory.
The result marks a significant milestone for Crystal Palace, who completed their first league double over Brighton since 1933 and became the first Premier League team to win a home match after receiving two red cards. For Brighton, the defeat dents their European aspirations, leaving them in eighth place with 47 points from 31 games. Palace, meanwhile, climb to 12th with 42 points, buoyed by their fourth consecutive home win in all competitions.