Luton Town scored with seconds left of stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace as the Hatters never give up.
Crystal Palace took the lead through Jean-Philippe Mateta’s lovely flicked effort and had multiple chances to double their lead through Mateta (twice), Eberechi Eze, Tyrick Mitchell and Odsonne Edouard.
After a tough first half Luton hung in there and substitute Cauley Woodrow headed home in the 96th minute to send the away fans wild as Rob Edwards’ side snatched a big point in their bid to stay in the Premier League.
Palace have 29 points and remain eight points above the relegation zone, while Luton move on to 21 points.
Hatters have momentum ahead of huge week
Look, Luton didn’t play well in the first half. They should have lost this game by the break as some sloppy errors let Crystal Palace in and they were let off they hook. But Luton hung in there and the Hatters have an incredible spirit about their group. In the second half they were much-improved as Morris and Ogbene had good chances and they pinned Palace in. As they pushed hard for an equalizer they gave up a few big chances late on but they rode their luck and then pounced. Woodrow — a local lad who, much like Luton, has worked his way back to the top-flight after a winding career — headed home and the way Luton celebrated told you how big of a point that was. Rob Edwards’ side now take momentum in to their game in-hand at Bournemouth on Wednesday and they then host Nottingham Forest next Saturday in a massive clash at the bottom of the table. This time next week Luton could be out of the relegation zone with two wins from two to take them two points ahead of Everton having played a game more than the Toffees and drag a whole host of teams into the relegation scrap. If that happens we will look back at their late equalizer at Palace, and their consistent refusal to give up, being crucial in setting up one final push for Premier League survival.
Crystal Palace vs Luton Town player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can Mateta was superb up top. He scored a great goal and dragged Luton’s defense all over the place. The only thing the Palace forward didn’t do was tuck home a second. Mitchell, Eze and Lerma were all dominant in midfield but Luton were solid as Kabore and Burke made several key blocks.
What’s next?
Palace are next in action on Saturday, March 30 away at Nottingham Forest in what is a huge game. Luton play their game in-hand, away at Bournemouth, this Wednesday, March 13 and then host Nottingham Forest on Saturday, March 16 in two huge games for the Hatters as they aim to clear out of the relegation zone.
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Luton Town live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET Saturday
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Online: Premier League on Peacock
Crystal Palace vs Luton live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Crystal Palace vs Luton final score: 1-1
Mateta 11', Woodrow 96'
Full time: Crystal Palace 1-1 Luton
Palace will be kicking themselves. They had so many big chances to seal that win but Luton never give up and they got their equalizer with just 10 seconds of stoppage time remaining.
LATE DRAMA! Woodrow equalizes with the last attack of the game! - Crystal Palace 1-1 Luton (96th minute)
Wow. Wow. Wow. Luton have done it. They never gave up. Townsend’s wonderful cross finds Woodrow and his flicked header sneaks into the far corner to send the away fans wild.
Edouard hits the bar
Odsonne Edouard hits the crossbar as he cut inside, dribbles past three players and smashes a great shot which hits the bar and goes over. Brilliant play from the sub.
Kabore with a great block to deny Mitchell
That would have sealed it as Mitchell was played in down the left and his shot from six yards was on target but Kabore slid in to block superbly.
Eze clips the bar from just inside the center circle
From just inside the Luton half Eberechi Eze sees Kaminski off his line and drills a lovely shot which shaves the top of the bar. Wow. What a goal that would have been. There’s something about Selhurst Park and halfway line goals, right? David Beckham knows...
Kaminski saves well to deny Mateta
Palace nearly had the clincher there. Mateta’s header is going in but Kaminski does well to save it. Luton’s goalkeeper is surely going to be in the Premier League next season even if the Hatters aren’t, right? What a great season he’s having.
Morris has a chance now
A cross in to the box finds Morris but his volley is straight at Johnstone who saves.
Big chance for Palace as Luton creak
The ball works its way to Ayew in the box but his shot is blocked as Luton get back to clear the danger. At the other end there are claims for a handball as Luton cross into the box.
Luton hanging in there as Ogbene heads wide
The Hatters are scrapping away, as expected, and Ogbene is under pressure as he heads wide from six yards out. That’s a good chance for Luton.
Half time: Crystal Palace 1-0 Luton
Mateta’s lovely goal is the difference and Luton have been lackluster. Palace should be ahead by more and that is the only positive that Luton can take from that first half as they’ve been so sloppy in possession.
Once again, Mateta should make it 2-0
Jordan Clark plays the ball back to his goalkeeper but plays it blind and Mateta is in but his dink over Kaminski is wide. Palace should be at least 2-0 up here.
Mateta should make it 2-0
From another Palace corner Mateta heads over the bar from six yards out. He had Ogbene’s arms wrapped around him but Mateta will be disappointed with that finish.
Andersen almost gets a second
A wicked cross is powered in and Andersen’s header is on target but Mengi deflects the ball over for a corner. He didn’t know much about it and Palace are really cranking through the gears as Luton can’t get out of their own half.
Palace feeling it now
Jordan Ayew whips in a cross from the right but Mateta and Mitchell can’t get on the end of it. The Eagles are flying. Pun intended.
Mateta flicks home to make the most of a mistake - Crystal Palace 1-0 Luton (11th minute)
Oh no. Doughty gets the pass back towards his own goal all wrong and Muniz races in on goal. He takes it around Kaminski and could have gone down but the full back finds Mateta and the French striker does ever so well to flick home a lovely effort into the empty net. Palace lead and Selhurst is rocking.
Couple of chances for Luton before Barkley goes down
Morris and then Barkley both had chances from crosses into the box but the latter saw his header fly harmlessly over the bar. However, Barkley was caught as he nodded that ball over and he looks to have broken his nose. After lengthy treatment he’s back on the pitch.
This is a huge game for both teams scrapping to stay in the Premier League. Palace boss Oliver Glasner will be hoping he can get back-to-back home wins to pretty much secure Palace’s status as a PL club for next season but Luton will go for it, as they always do under Rob Edwards. The Hatters know they really have to win this game to stay in touch with the teams above them. What an atmosphere at Selhurst as the teams come out.
Crystal Palace lineup
Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Richards; Munoz, Lerma, Wharton, Mitchell; Eze, Ayew; Mateta
Luton lineup
Kaminski; Burke, Osho, Mengi; Kabore, Clark, Barkley, Doughty; Ogbene, Chong; Morris
Crystal Palace focus, team news
OUT: Michael Olise (hamstring), Marc Guehi (knee), Matheus Franca (adductor), Rob Holding (ankle), Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (thigh), Cheick Doucoure (achilles - out for season), Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Jordan Ayew (hip), Jeffrey Schlupp (thigh)
Luton Town focus, team news
OUT: Elijah Adebayo (thigh), Jacob Brown (knee), Tom Lockyer (heart), Dan Potts (thigh), Marvelous Nakamba (knee), Mads Andersen (calf), Albert Sambi Lokonga (thigh), Amari’i Bell (thigh), Joseph Johnson (illness) | QUESTIONABLE: Gabriel Osho (undisclosed)
