Christian Benteke’s last-gasp purpose fingers Crystal Palace win over Brighton

Christian Benteke’s stoppage-time volley earned Crystal Palace a dramatic 2-1 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion within the Premier League on Monday, regardless of the guests being second finest for a lot of the competition.
Palace took the lead as mortgage signing Jean-Philippe Mateta scored his first purpose in English soccer with an improvised end within the twenty eighth minute.
Brighton improved after the break and pulled degree within the fifty fifth minute by means of Joel Veltman, who swept house his first purpose for Graham Potter’s facet because the ball broke unfastened within the penalty space.
The probabilities saved coming for Brighton as they completed the match having had 25 pictures at purpose.
But Palace, from simply three efforts, scored twice, with Benteke popping up with the winner to interrupt Brighton hearts within the ninety fifth minute.
The win moved Palace as much as thirteenth within the standings on 32 factors. Brighton remained sixteenth on 26 factors, 4 factors away from the relegation zone.
“It is a massive result,” Benteke advised Sky Sports. “We know we play a derby towards an excellent facet.
“It wasn’t easy, they managed to come back in the game in the second half. We put our lives on the line, tried to defend as much as we could and I had a chance to score a great goal.”
Brighton got here into the match unbeaten of their final six league video games, however it was Palace who struck first. The end was beautiful as Mateta, on mortgage from Bundesliga facet Mainz 05, let the ball come by means of his legs earlier than backheeling it in.
Mateta’s opener was the primary purpose Brighton had conceded on house soil within the Premier League in 343 minutes, however their defence was not often troubled after that..
Brighton’s ending allow them to down again and again, with solely 5 of their 25 makes an attempt at purpose hitting the goal.
“It is difficult, a very sore one, we did everything but get the points,” Potter advised Sky Sports.
“They were in our box I think twice and scored two. That is the beauty of football but it doesn’t feel so beautiful at the moment, it feels painful.”
Benteke latched on to Andros Townsend’s cross to safe an unlikely victory together with his first league purpose since mid-December.