Southampton were left heartbroken as a stoppage-time equalizer from Crystal Palace’s Matheus França denied them a rare Premier League victory in a tense 1-1 draw on Wednesday evening. The match, played in front of a sparse yet hopeful crowd at St. Mary’s, saw the bottom-of-the-table Saints take the lead through Paul Onuachu, only for Palace to salvage a point in the 92nd minute, extending their unbeaten away run to a joint club-record 10 league matches.
The game kicked off at 7:45 PM BST with Southampton, under the stewardship of Ivan Juric, desperate to secure just their third win of the season and claw their way past Derby County’s infamous 11-point Premier League tally. The Saints, who had lost nine of their last ten league matches, showed early intent against a Palace side riding high after a 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Fulham.
It was Southampton who struck first in the 20th minute. Mateus Fernandes, given too much time in midfield, lofted a precise ball into the box, where the towering 6ft 7in Onuachu rose above Palace defenders to nod a downward header past Dean Henderson. The goal, Southampton’s first at home since early November, sparked a flicker of hope among the fans, who have endured a torrid campaign marked by defensive frailties and a lack of cutting edge.
Palace, managed by Oliver Glasner, nearly responded immediately. Just 90 seconds in, Jean-Philippe Mateta rattled the crossbar with a long-range effort, signaling their attacking intent. However, Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale stood tall throughout, notably denying Mateta again with a brilliant close-range save in the first half. The Saints’ defense, often their Achilles’ heel, held firm against Palace’s possession dominance (57%) and relentless pressure.
The second half saw Palace push forward, though they struggled to carve out clear chances against a resolute Southampton backline. A moment of chaos nearly gifted them an equalizer in the 73rd minute when Jan Bednarek’s errant backpass fell to Eddie Nketiah, only for Ramsdale to charge down the shot and see the ball bounce wide. As the clock ticked toward full time, it seemed Southampton might finally hold on for a precious victory.
But no team undoes their own hard work quite like Southampton. In the second minute of stoppage time, Jefferson Lerma delivered a pinpoint cross from the right, and França, unmarked at the near post, guided a header past Ramsdale to silence the St. Mary’s faithful. The Brazilian’s first competitive goal for Palace not only snatched a point but also ensured Southampton remained rooted to the foot of the table, one point shy of Derby’s unwanted record.
Post-match, Juric cut a frustrated figure. “We were so close to a win we deserved,” he said. “The boys fought hard, but we switched off at the end. It’s a tough one to take.” Meanwhile, Glasner praised his side’s resilience: “I’m proud of the group. We didn’t give up, and the point feels good after a tough night.”
Southampton’s stats reflected their effort—43% possession, eight shots (two on target), and a gritty display—but their inability to see out the game underscored their season-long struggles. Palace, with nine shots (three on target) and an xG of 0.88 compared to Southampton’s 0.51, will feel the draw was justified.
For Southampton, the result keeps their faint survival hopes alive but does little to mask their likely relegation fate. Palace, sitting 12th with 39 points, march on, their away form a beacon of consistency in an otherwise unpredictable season. The Saints now face an uphill battle with just nine games remaining, while Palace turn their attention to a weekend clash with Brighton.