May 29 2007

Jeff Bourne celebrates his goal with jubilant teammates

Six of the best Crystal Palace last-gasp wins of all time.

Stockport 0 Palace 1

Division One May 6 2001

Going into this game, Palace needed a victory and hoped Birmingham won against the Eagles' relegation rivals Huddersfield to stay up. Things were looking bleak with the score still goal-less until Dougie Freedman produced a moment of class three minutes from time.

He latched onto a huge David Hopkin clearance upfield, jinked past two defenders in the left of the area, before blasting into the roof of the net. Luckily, Birmingham did the business against Huddersfield and Palace, under caretaker boss Steve Kember, escaped the drop.

Wrexham 2 Palace 4

Third Division May 11 1977

Promotion-chasing Palace travelled to Wrexham in midweek for their last match of the season sitting in fourth place, and two points behind the Welsh side, who occupied the third and final promotion spot. They had to win by two goals and needed Wrexham to lose their outstanding game on Saturday to go up.

Wrexham were unbeaten at home all season, but Palace opened up a 2-0 lead. Kenny Sansom's long throw found Nick Chatterton, whose shot deflected off a defender for Dave Swindlehurst to slam home in the 27th minute. Then five minutes into the second half, Sansom combined with Barry Silkman who crossed for Steve Perrin to score.

Goals from Wrexham duo Whittle and Lyons made it 2-2, but Palace sub Rachid Harkouk pulled it back to 3-2 in the last minute when he clipped the ball just under the bar after a mellee in the box. Then deep into injury time, Harkouk fed Jeff Bourne with the perfect throughball to snatch an amazing 4-2 triumph.

In Wrexham's final game against champions Mansfield, they crashed to defeat and Terry Venables clinched Palace promotion to Division Two in his first season as a manager.

Brighton 2 Palace 3

Championship November 20 2005

A win over arch-enemies Brighton is always a fantastic moment. But when it comes with the last kick of the game, it's even sweeter. Palace twice came back from behind to win this five-goal thriller at the Withdean Stadium.

The Seagulls broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute after Alexandre Frutos skinned Emmerson Boyce down the left and his cross was flicked into the net by Leon Knight.

Six minutes later, Palace equalised when Marco Reich's cross was hooked into the box by Clinton Morrison and Dougie Freedman headed home for his 100th Palace goal.

Brighton were awarded a penalty eight minutes into the second half after Gary Borrowdale pushed Jake Robinson in the area and Knight put away the spotkick. But the visitors refused to give up and Reich set up Freedman to drill an angled shot into the bottom corner on the hour.

Gary Hart was sent off for Albion after two bookings in the 87th minute as the Londoners searched for a winner. And it came in the fourth minute of injury time as Morrison teed up McAnuff who hit a low drive from the edge of the area rocketed into the bottom of the net.

Palace 3 Oldham 2

Second Division October 12 1985

Oldham went in front with a goal from Roger Palmer before Alan Irvine levelled things up for the Eagles in the 37th minute. But the visitors regained their lead a minute before the break through David Fairclough's low strike.

Giant defender Mickey Droy had a fantastic volley disallowed by the referee, but the game changed with the 70th minute introduction of substitute Ian Wright for Trevor Aylott.

Kevin Taylor made it 2-2 with just four minutes to go, before Wright got a sensational winner by heading Irvine's cross past Andy Goram in the last minute.

Palace 3 Wolves 1

Division One Play-off Semi-final May 10 1997

The Eagles ended the 1996-7 campaign in the final play-off position and hosted third-placed Wolves in the semi-final first leg. In a tense, evenly-fought contest, Neil Shipperley headed home Simon Rodger's corner to give Palace the lead on the hour mark.

Then in the final two minutes, Palace fans witnessed one of the most thrilling finales ever seen at Selhurst Park. Sub Dougie Freedman unleashed a 20-yard dipping volley to put his team 2-0 ahead. Seconds later, Wolves full-back Jamie Smith scored a consolation and his first-ever goal for the Midlanders.

But Freedman wasn't finished yet. He earned hero status with the Palace fans by hitting a super, dipping volley from 12 yards with the last kick of the game to restore Palace's two-goal cushion for the second leg at Molineux. Palace lost that 2-1, but went through to the play-off final 4-3 on aggregate where they beat Sheffield United.

Palace 1 Sheffield United 0

Division One Play-off Final May 26 1997

One of Palace's most dramatic victories was clinched by one of the club's best-ever goals. With the scores locked at 0-0, the final appeared to be heading for extra-time when the Eagles won a corner in the penultimate minute.

Andy Roberts played it short to Simon Rodger whose inswinging cross was headed out by Blades defender Carl Tiler. The ball fell to unmarked midfielder David Hopkin almost 25 yards from goal.

He took one touch to control before looking up and hitting a fantastic curling effort that flew into the top corner of the net. A fitting way to send Palace to the top flight and it made up for heartache in the play-off final against Leicester the year before.

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