Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth. Premier League.
Selhurst ParkAttendance24,823.
Saturday 9 December 2017 20:26, UK
Christian Benteke missed a 93rd-minute penalty as Crystal Palace were held to a dramatic 2-2 draw by Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.
Benteke had the chance to win it for relegation-threatened Palace in injury time, but saw his spot-kick saved by Asmir Begovic as his 12-game goal drought continued.
There were four goals during an entertaining first half as Jermain Defoe gave Bournemouth the lead from a well-worked corner (10) for his 200th career league goal, before Luka Milivojevic levelled from the penalty spot (41).
Palace were ahead moments later through sub Scott Dann's close-range finish (44), but Defoe equalised on the stroke of half-time with a stunning half-volley from an acute angle (45+3).
Palace handed Benteke the spot-kick, despite Milivojevic still being on the pitch, and his miss means Palace drop to bottom of the Premier League, two points from safety, while Bournemouth are 14th, three above the drop zone.
Both sides attacked freely in the first half, but it was Bournemouth who went ahead against the run of play through Defoe's tidy finish from 12 yards after Andrew Surman's well-worked short corner, though Palace felt Jeffrey Schlupp was pulled back by Josh King in the build-up.
Benteke saw a shot well saved by Begovic shortly after, before Mamadou Sakho failed to bundle the ball home from close range, but it was 1-1 on 41 minutes as Milivojevic superbly tucked away a spot-kick after Wilfried Zaha was brought down by Begovic.
Sub Dann finished off at the far post from Yohan Cabaye's centre three minutes later to make it 2-1, but Defoe equalised shortly after with a stunning looped half-volley from an acute angle after Lewis Cook's long ball.
Defoe miscued in the box near the hour mark as he searched for a hat-trick, while at the other end Dann missed a clear chance for his second, poking over the bar from close range after Benteke's flick.
Begovic tipped away Ruben Loftus-Cheek's long-range effort, and Milivojevic poked wide in space from 10 yards, but Palace were handed three points on a plate when Charlie Daniels brought down Zaha in the box, though replays showed the Bournemouth man got something on the ball.
Benteke stepped up instead of Milivojevic, and went too close to Begovic, who beat away his poor penalty.
Roy Hodgson: "I am frustrated, especially when you see a penalty missed in the last minutes of the game, by someone who has not been designated as a penalty taker, but has decided at the last minute that he is the man to take the penalty.
"I think if you do that you've really got to score it, or you risk the wrath of a lot of people, not least of all your manager, coaches and team-mates."
Eddie Howe: "The second goal is just incredible. Lewis Cook's ball is brilliantly weighted, and Jermain still had a lot to do. His finish was of the highest quality. Great run, and unbelievable technique to get the ball over Speroni from that distance, and that angle, top class."
In case there was ever any doubt, Defoe has still got it. He was at his best at Selhurst Park, scoring his 200th league goal in trademark fashion, his first real sniff of the game.
But his 201st was simply stunning; receiving the ball on the bounce from a seemingly impossible angle, he put it in the only place he could, looping over Julian Speroni.
He hasn't been given too much playing time this season, but the 35-year-old proved he is far from losing that Midas touch in front of goal.
Palace now host Watford on Tuesday evening, before going to Leicester next Saturday, live on Sky Sports Premier League at 12.30pm. Bournemouth travel to Manchester United on Wednesday evening, and then host Liverpool on Super Sunday, also live on Sky Sports Premier League at 4.30pm.
