Swansea City looked well on their way to three points, but then the 81st minute happened. Chico Flores hauled down Glen Murray from behind, drawing a red card and conceding a spot kick that Murray converted to hand Crystal Palace a 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium.
Swansea City vs. Crystal Palace: Final score 1-1, Palace score late to nab a point
A 81st minute penalty earned Crystal Palace a valuable away draw.
Stu Forster
Palace's equalizer was not without controversy, though. it was undoubtedly a red card as Michel Vorm misplayed a long ball over the top, leaving Chico with no choice but to foul Murray so he couldn't hit it into an open net, but replays showed the foul came outside of the box. Palace should have had a free kick, not a penalty, and Swansea should have had the opportunity to hang onto their 1-0 lead with 10 men.
Instead, the referee mistakenly pointed to the spot and Murray buried his shot.
Swansea were slightly better for most of the match. They kept the ball, as they always do, but, as is their wont, they struggled to turn possession into chances. Crystal Palace also had a handful of chances of their own, especially on set pieces as Swansea conceded four corner kicks, but they were generally speculative and couldn’t do too much to test Vorm.
While the Swans failed to mount a consistent challenge on Julian Speroni’s goal, their goal was gorgeous. It came on the quick passing that they try so hard to implement, but with the attacking and ambitious intent that is so rare for them. Eventually, three quick passes played Jonathan De Guzman in on goal and he made no mistake with his finish.
That goal was supposed to deliver Swansea three points. They kept the ball, held off Palace and were nine minutes from victory, but then Vorm misplayed a long ball, Chico had to foul and the referee made a mistake. That, plus a converted penalty ruined it all and the Swans could only take a single point from a very fortunate Palace.
Swansea City: Vorm, Chico, Williams (Amat 70’), Rangel, Davies, Britton, Pablo (Canas 22’), Dyer, Routledge, De Guzman, Bony (Lita 63’).
Goals: De Guzman 25’.
Red cards: Chico 81’.
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward, Parr (Thomas 70’), Dann, Delaney, Bolasie, Dikhacoi, Ince (Murray 45’), Jedinak, Ledley, Chamakh (Jerome 32’).
Goals: Murray 82.
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