Crystal Palace 1 (Guessand 90) Wolves 0
Evan Guessand’s 90th minute strike subjected Wolves to defeat at Selhurst Park on an afternoon where the Old Gold caused their own problems with a missed penalty and red card in the capital.
Rob Edwards’ side were the better side in the first 45 and should have been ahead after Mateus Mane was brought down in the area. However, Tolu Arokodare had his penalty saved by Dean Henderson.
After the break Ladislav Krejci was booked twice in a matter of minutes, and the Eagles made their opponents pay in the final minute of the 90 when Guessand ghosted into the Wolves box and fired home at the near post to win it for the hosts.
Wednesday’s rousing comeback was evidently still fresh in Wolves minds at Selhurst Park, as they enjoyed a positive first 45 and should have been ahead. That was despite Yerson Mosquera selling Jose Sa short with an early back pass, as Yeremy Pino lofted the ball over the bar to let the Colombian off.
The Old Gold were the better side however and could have led on 22 when Hugo Bueno’s corner found Arokodare in the six-yard box, but he headed off target and Mosquera was unable to turn home. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde then had a free-kick pushed behind for a corner which Mosquera headed over from.
The closest Palace came to scoring in the opening half was through a training ground routine. Their clever corner picked out Pino around the penalty spot, and he connected well but fired against the foot of the post.
The biggest moment arrived on the stroke of half-time, however. Mane was sent clean through on goal and was taken out by Adam Wharton in the area for a clear penalty. Arokodare stepped up but his low spot kick lacked pace and Henderson dropped to his left to collect.
Half-time | Crystal Palace 0-0 Wolves
Palace had improved marginally after the interval, with Adam Armstrong almost catching out Henderson at one end and Mitchell shooting at Sa at the other.
The game truly turned on 61 minutes however, after Krejci, who was booked just minutes before, received a second yellow for kicking the ball away and it was an uphill task from there.
Despite that twist, Palace couldn’t initially turn possession into chances, with Pino firing a free-kick straight at Sa. But as the clock ticked over into 90, Mitchell’s low cross found Guessand, who’d lost his runner and squeezed the ball between Sa and his near post.
Jaydee Canvot then should have made it two in added time, but turned over the bar from close range, while Andre had a half chance blocked at the death, as Palace held on for all three points.
Palace | Henderson, Munoz, Riad (Guessand 72), Richards, Canvot, Mitchell, Hughes (Kamada 46), Wharton, Pino (Johnson 77), Sarr, Strand Larsen.
Unused subs | Benitez, Uche, Clyne, Sosa, Devenny, Cardines.
Wolves | Sa, Tchatchoua, Mosquera (A Gomes 90), S Bueno, Krejci, H Bueno, Andre, Bellegarde (J Gomes 87), Mane, Armstrong (Wolfe 63), Arokodare.
Unused subs | Johnstone, Doherty, Lima, R Gomes, Toti, Edozie.
