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Grealish Stoppage-Time Strike Ends Crystal Palace’s 19-Match Unbeaten Run Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace: Jack Grealish scored his first goal for Everton deep into added time at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday to secure a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Crystal Palace. The result was highly significant, as it brought to an end the Eagles’ remarkable 19-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, stretching back nearly six months. The visitors, under manager Oliver Glasner, were largely dominant in the first half and looked set to continue their impressive run after Daniel Muñoz swept home a well-worked opener in the 37th minute. However, a spirited second-half response from David Moyes’ Everton side, coupled with a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal from Palace, allowed the Toffees to first equalise via an Iliman Ndiaye penalty in the 76th minute, before Grealish inadvertently bundled home the winner in the 93rd minute. For Crystal Palace, the defeat represents a moment of frustration, interrupting a phenomenal period of form that has seen the side elevate itself into the conversation for European qualification. Despite the bitterness of losing the streak in such a cruel manner, the length of the run—the longest in the club’s 120-year history—highlights the transformative impact Glasner has had on the club’s trajectory since his arrival. The Eagles arrived on Merseyside sitting in the top half of the Premier League table, fresh off their first-ever victory in a major European competition earlier in the week. The first 45 minutes of the contest were a stark reflection of Palace’s recent confidence, with the away side creating multiple clear-cut chances.
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Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, making his 300th Premier League appearance for the club, was central to keeping the home side in contention, making several vital stops, including denying Marc Guéhi and Jean-Philippe Mateta in quick succession. Palace’s superiority finally paid off when a quick interchange of passing saw Ismaïla Sarr release the overlapping Muñoz, who slotted the ball calmly past Pickford to secure a deserved lead heading into the break. The frustration on the terraces at the Hill Dickinson Stadium was palpable, and Everton manager David Moyes opted for decisive action, introducing attacking substitutes Carlos Alcaraz and Beto at the interval in place of Thierno Barry and Tyler Dibling. The tactical switch provided the immediate injection of pace and energy the hosts desperately needed, completely altering the momentum of the game. Even with the momentum shift, Palace were not without opportunity to double their advantage. Jean-Philippe Mateta, in particular, was rueful, missing two gilt-edged chances that would have effectively sealed the contest. His most notable miss saw him chip the ball over Pickford only for Jake O’Brien to clear off the line, before later slicing wide when unmarked in the area. These moments proved pivotal.
The penalty that levelled the scores arose from sustained Everton pressure, when Maxence Lacroix misjudged a through ball and collided with substitute Tim Iroegbunam. Ndiaye stepped up and coolly dispatched the spot-kick, igniting the home crowd and setting the stage for the dramatic finale. Following the match, Everton boss David Moyes admitted his side had been fortunate to still be in the game after the opening period, but praised the character shown by his players to fight back. “I thought Crystal Palace should have been out of sight, they should have been 3-0 up, but we stuck at it and eventually got a bit of fortune,” Moyes told reporters, before lauding the contribution of his half-time tactical changes. “The two subs who came on completely changed the game, give us a different way of playing with lots of runs in behind. We were brilliant in the second half, so it was a good win against a team who were so many games unbeaten. ” Match-winner Jack Grealish echoed his manager’s assessment of the performance, highlighting the contrast between the two halves. "The first half was so bad and the lads will say the same, it was easily the worst we've played this season," Grealish noted.
His stoppage-time goal, a deflection off Muñoz following a superb save by Dean Henderson from a Beto header, provided a moment of immense relief and celebration for the home side. For Crystal Palace, manager Oliver Glasner was reflective, insisting the disappointment must be used as a catalyst for future development. “We’re very disappointed today about the result definitely because for 60-70 minutes we played so well, so it was a top, top performance,” Glasner said. He identified a key area for improvement: "What we're missing to be a top Premier League team is the efficiency in our attack because I saw a really top game over 60-70 minutes, and this is maybe the step we have to go, the development we have to take. " Ultimately, the fixture delivered on its promise of drama, confirming Everton’s resilience under Moyes at their new stadium while simultaneously providing Crystal Palace with a hard-earned lesson in the fine margins of the Premier League. The Eagles remain well-placed despite the setback, but the focus now shifts to how quickly Glasner’s side can recover from the emotional impact of seeing their historic run halted. For Everton, the victory snaps a four-game winless slide and provides a vital platform of confidence as they head into the next phase of the campaign.
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