Selhurst Park, London — 5 May 2025
On a mild Monday evening in South London, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest played out a gritty 1-1 draw in a match that mixed silky football with a measure of sheer fortune, leaving both clubs with contrasting feelings in their respective quests — one for mid-table consolidation and cup final momentum, the other for European qualification dreams that refuse to die.
It was a night of missed opportunities, influential performances, and one very fortuitous deflection that may yet carry significance when the curtain comes down on this Premier League campaign.
Palace’s Poise, But Not the Points
Fresh off the euphoria of an FA Cup semi-final triumph, Palace started brightly and looked every bit the composed and confident side Oliver Glasner has shaped them into. Eberechi Eze, yet again, pulled the strings and delivered the opener from the spot just after the hour mark. The penalty came after Tyrick Mitchell was bundled over in the box by Nicolas Dominguez and Matz Sels — a challenge which originally went unpunished until VAR intervention changed referee Andy Madley’s mind.
Eze, cool and clinical, sent Sels the wrong way and handed Palace a deserved lead.
Before that, Palace had looked the more cohesive outfit. Full-back Daniel Muñoz tested Sels early, and Ismaila Sarr had two clear chances that, on another night, might have doubled the advantage. Wharton and Eze were particularly bright in front of England manager Thomas Tuchel, and Glasner will have taken encouragement from the fluidity on display — even if the full reward eluded them.
But for all their neat build-up and attacking verve, Palace were undone by one of the scrappiest goals of the Premier League season.
A Lucky Break — and Forest’s Lifeline
In the 64th minute, Forest launched one of their increasingly trademark counter-attacks. A corner was only half-cleared, and Neco Williams struck a speculative shot from outside the box. Murillo, up from the back, instinctively threw a leg at it — more in hope than design — and the ball flicked off him, spinning cruelly past a wrong-footed Dean Henderson.
He didn’t know much about it. But Forest didn’t care.
The equaliser visibly energised Nuno Espírito Santo’s men. Anthony Elanga had already tested Henderson from a free-kick and Chris Wood was a persistent threat, his physicality forcing Palace’s centre-backs to stay honest. While Forest lacked consistent control of the game, their transitions and resilience kept them in it.
Hudson-Odoi, unavailable through injury, watched from the away end — and would have been encouraged by the fighting spirit shown by his team.
Implications for Both Clubs
Palace’s Wembley date with Manchester City looms large, and this result won’t derail them — though Glasner will be disappointed not to see out the win. The withdrawal of Adam Wharton after a knock suggests caution, with the club understandably prioritising silverware.
As for Forest, their Champions League ambitions remain mathematically alive. Their destiny may no longer be fully in their hands, but with games against Leicester and West Ham ahead, they remain contenders. A final-day clash against Chelsea is shaping up to be a blockbuster finish — especially if this hard-earned point proves decisive.
The Verdict
It wasn’t a classic, but it had its moments — from Eze’s wizardry to Murillo’s fluke. Forest were fortunate but opportunistic; Palace elegant but ultimately unfulfilled.
This wasn’t a result that defines seasons, but it certainly shapes them. Whether Murillo’s lucky leg becomes a Champions League catalyst or just a Premier League footnote will depend on what happens next.
