Crystal Palace secured a crucial 1–0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Selhurst Park in Sunday’s Premier League action, with a late dramatic winner from substitute Evann Guessand in the 90th minute. The Eagles’ hard‑earned win was marked by a pivotal penalty save, a red card for Wolves, and a tense finish that kept Palace above the relegation zone and compounded Wolves’ struggles at the bottom of the table.
The first half was cagey and intensely contested. Wolves had one of their best chances of the game in the 43rd minute when they were awarded a penalty after Adam Wharton’s foul on Matheus Mané inside the box. Tolu Arokodare stepped up to take the spot‑kick, but his effort was well saved by Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, keeping the game level. Henderson’s save proved crucial in preserving the stalemate at halftime.
Palace had earlier threatened on the counter and showed urgency in possession, but neither side could find a breakthrough in an end‑to‑end first 45 minutes. Wolves’ pressure moments gave them opportunities, but Henderson’s decisive intervention kept Palace in the game.
The complexion of the match shifted midway through the second half when Ladislav Krejčí was shown a second yellow card in the 61st minute, leaving Wolves with ten men. The dismissal came after a rash challenge, and it left Wolves with a significant uphill task for the remaining half hour.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Wolves remained competitive, defending deep and trying to thwart Palace’s attacks. Their compact shape made it difficult for Palace to find space, even with the extra man, and chances remained limited until late in the game.
Just when it looked as though the match might finish in a stalemate, Palace found a breakthrough in stoppage time. In the 90th minute, substitute Evann Guessand latched onto a fine cross from Tyrick Mitchell and slotted home to give Crystal Palace a dramatic 1–0 lead. The goal was Guessand’s first for Palace and provided the Eagles with a much‑needed three points.
The flying finish triggered celebrations at Selhurst Park and capped a tense afternoon for the home side, who had laboured for much of the game and benefited from key moments, notably Henderson’s penalty save and Wolves playing with ten men, to secure the win.
Wolves showed resilience, especially after going down to ten men. Despite being reduced in numbers, they remained organized and looked to hit Palace on the counter. Their penalty early in the second half was a key moment, had they converted, the game might have taken a very different trajectory. However, Arokodare’s miss and the later red card ultimately proved costly.
The win provides a timely boost in a challenging season for Palace. It’s only their second home victory in 16 matches across all competitions, and the three points help ease pressure on manager Oliver Glasner and lift the team further from the relegation zone. Securing all three points in dramatic fashion will offer renewed confidence as they prepare for upcoming fixtures.
Wolves remain rooted at the bottom of the Premier League table with a meagre points tally. The missed penalty and the red card were decisive setbacks in a match they could have realistically taken something from. Their fight and defensive resilience despite being a man down were commendable, but the lack of clinical execution in key moments continues to hamper their survival bid.
Crystal Palace’s narrow 1–0 win over Wolves was a game defined by key moments rather than overall dominance. A penalty save early on, a crucial red card, and a last‑gasp winner were the turning points in a tense contest at Selhurst Park. The victory will be remembered for Evann Guessand’s dramatic late goal and Dean Henderson’s critical save, both of which ultimately tipped the balance in Palace’s favour. As the Premier League season progresses, both teams will reflect on this match differently, Palace as a much‑needed lift, Wolves as a painful missed opportunity.
