Brighton Avoids Losing Thanks To Crystal Palace Defender's Own Goal

Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen's own goal. (photo: doc. Antara)

JAKARTA – The faces of the Brighton & Hove Albion players have finally been saved. Graham Potter's team was finally able to collect a point during a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, The American Express Community Stadium, Falmer, Friday, January 14.

It doesn't matter, even though the goal that brought in one point was not scored by their own players, but thanks to an own goal from the visitors' defender, Joachim Andersen, at the last minute.

Brighton dominated the first half and should have taken the lead in the 38th minute. But Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland saved a poor Pascal Gross penalty in the 38th minute.

The hosts regained possession moments later but Neal Maupay's effort was ruled out for a foul on Butland following a VAR review.

Brighton's chances then came and went in the second half, but they were ultimately stumped when Conor Gallagher, a Palace player on loan from Chelsea, scored in the 69th minute. This frustrated the hosts.

Palace also looked easy to secure three points at home to opponents. However, Denmark defender Anderson accidentally diverted the ball into his own net three minutes from time. The score is 1-1.

Furthermore, Danny Welbeck almost grabbed a win for Brighton in stoppage time, but his header missed. Should Welbeck's header come in, Brighton deserved victory, considering they had 19 shots to just three from Palace.

"It shows the mentality of the whole team," Brighton striker Neal Maupay told Sky Sports. "We never give up and trust each other."

They also had to settle for a draw that saw Potter's side move up to eighth in the standings with 28 points from 20 matches. Meanwhile, Palace moved up to 11th on 24 points after playing one game more.

"Obviously to see they had more of the ball but conceding such a messy own goal after defending brilliantly, it felt more like a loss," Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland told Sky Sports.

"Opportunities are very small and rare for me and to have a night like this is rewarding and reminds me of what I am capable of," he was quoted as saying by the Straits Times.

Butland became a hero in that fight. He made many fantastic saves to deny Brighton's Leandro Trossard from the start.

Then as Brighton pressed, they got the chance to break the deadlock from the spot when VAR intervened to point out a foul by Will Hughes in the penalty area, which frustrated Palace. Butland, once again proved unbeatable as he easily blocked Gross's penalty.