Report & Highlights: Palace take point after pulsating draw with Brentford

Ismaïla Sarr's penalty had put the Eagles in control before Dango Ouattara levelled for the Bees against the run of play not long before the break.

A memorable first Palace goal for Adam Wharton restored the lead and looked to have us on course for the three points. But Ouattara scored again late on for the European hopefuls, as Palace were forced to settle for a draw despite creating the better chances.

Summary:

• 4: Sarr goes down under Kelleher's challenge. Following a VAR review, Sam Barrott points to the spot following a VAR review.
• 6 - GOAL: Palace lead as Sarr confidently scores past Kelleher.
• 14: Muñoz forces a great save from Kelleher.
• 16: Sarr hits the woodwork after another flowing team move.
• 33: Strand Larsen sees a curling shot come back off the post, as Palace continue to create chances.
• 38: Pino nearly gets on the end of a deep cross but fails to connect.
• 40 - GOAL: Brentford level things up when Canvot's headed clearance ricochets off Ouattara and beyond Henderson.
• 41: Thiago fires one across the face of goal as Brentford seize the momentum.
• HT: Brentford 1-1 Palace
• 52 - GOAL: Wharton smashes a low shot underneath Kelleher for his first Palace goal to restore the lead!
• 60: Glasner brings on Mateta and Richards in a bid to seal the win, with the former making his 200th Palace appearance.
• 67: Johnson nearly forces an error from Kelleher as Palace continue to control proceedings.
• 88 - GOAL: Brentford level when Ouattara heads in from close range for his second goal of the game.
• FT: Brentford 2-2 Palace

Oliver Glasner recalled Daichi Kamada and Adam Wharton to his midfield as two of five changes made from the side that started against Manchester City.

And those tweaks had the desired effect as Palace made a flying start in west London.

Just four minutes had passed when Ismaïla Sarr darted into the penalty area. Out came Caoimhin Kelleher, but the Brentford ‘keeper appeared to catch Sarr as the ball went behind.

Although the referee initially gave a corner, Sam Barrott was then instructed to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.

The rewatch left him in no doubt. Barrott pointed to the spot and Sarr fired a cool kick into the bottom corner to give Palace the lead.

It set the tone for a flying first half hour from the Eagles. Daniel Muñoz forced a smart save from Kelleher at his near post, before Wharton volleyed just over – a warning sign of what was to come.

Naturally, Sarr was a constant threat. The forward nearly doubled the lead in the 16th minute, only to see his effort come back off the woodwork.

By contrast, Brentford rarely troubled Dean Henderson’s goal, having missed a good chance in the opening minute when Dango Ouattara blazed over.

As the Eagles dominated, the away end was in party mood – ‘We’re on our way…’ on repeat once again.

Jørgen Strand Larsen was next to go close, as Palace continued to create chances. A clever pass from Sarr found the Norway international, who shifted the ball onto his left foot.

He looked a certain scorer when curling an effort beyond Kelleher, only for the post to deny the Eagles.

Yéremy Pino was having a good game and was the next in Eagle Gold to come close, failing to connect with a deep cross at the back post.

It felt as if it was only a matter of time before Palace doubled their lead. Yet, against the run of play, it was Brentford who would score next.

Jaydee Canvot managed to meet a cross from the right-wing. Unfortunately, his header cannoned straight off the face of Ouattara and into the net, Henderson with no chance.

It was something of a freak goal, scored against the run of play, leaving the Eagles with work to do to restore the lead.

For the first time the visiting defence looked a touch rattled, with Igor Thiago getting a dangerous ball across the face of our goal only moments later. Thankfully no-one in a red and white shirt was able to connect – and the two sides went in level at the break.

Glasner introduced Brennan Johnson at the break for Pino, as Palace attempted to regain their dominance.

And they did so through a rather unlikely source.

With the Brentford defence failing to deal properly with a low cross, the ball came out to midfielder Wharton.

He produced a low drive from just outside the box that proved too quick for Kelleher to keep out.

Cue bedlam in the away end, with Wharton composing himself before producing the sort of backflip acrobatics that wouldn’t look out of place at this summer’s Commonwealth Games. Undoubtedly, one of the moments of the season.

Brentford looked shellshocked as Jean-Philippe Mateta and Chris Richards were introduced to proceedings, with the French forward making his landmark 200th appearance for Palace.

Fellow substitute Johnson nearly forced the third, pressuring Kelleher, who only recovered in the last second to clear the ball to safety.

The hosts had hopes of European qualification before kick-off, but were having to repel attacks, rather than create their own – only some last-ditch defending from Kristoffer Ajer denying Mateta a chance for the third.

Jefferson Lerma then replaced Chadi Riad for the final 15 minutes, with the Eagles looking a good bet to record our first Premier League away win since the victory at Tottenham in March.

Keane Lewis-Potter did offer a reminder the game wasn’t yet won, when he whipped a powerful shot just wide of the post in the 82nd minute.

Canvot was then forced to make a vital block from Thiago as Brentford continued to press.

And they got their reward two minutes from the end of normal time. A long throw-in was flicked on to the back post by substitute Sepp Van Den Berg and Ouattara converted from close range to level the game.

Ten minutes of injury-time saw Glasner bring Evann Guessand back for his first appearance since the first leg of the Conference League quarter-final.

The Eagles did have a let off in the dying minutes when Thiago blasted over with the goal gaping, after Mikkel Damsgaard was given too much room down the left-wing.

But when Van Den Berg headed over in the 10th minute of injury-time, the referee called time on an enthralling game – Palace taking a point back to South London.

The Eagles return to action one week from today, when hosting Arsenal in our final Premier League game of 2025/26.

Brentford: Kelleher, Kayode, Ajer (Van den Berg, 82), Collins, Lewis-Potter, Ouattara, Yarmoliuk (Dasilva, 89), Janelt (Henderson, 63), Jensen (Schade, 63), Damsgaard, Igor Thiago

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey Pinnock, Henderson, Nelson, Furo

Palace: Henderson (GK), Riad (Lerma, 74), Lacroix (Richards, 60), Canvot, Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell, Pino (Johnson, 45), Sarr, Strand Larsen (Mateta, 60)

Subs: Benítez (GK), Clyne, Hughes, Devenny, Guessand.

AS IT HAPPENED