Sub Cauley Woodrow scored a 96th-minute header to stun Selhurst Park and earn Luton a potentially vital 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.
The visitors had been completely dominated for the majority of the contest, with Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta passing up three good chances to add to his first-half flick and Eberechi Eze and Odsonne Edouard hitting the bar late on.
But, with the home fans already celebrating what they thought was certain to be a second home win for new boss Oliver Glasner, former Eagle Andros Townsend crossed for Woodrow to glance a header in off the far post.
It came in the final minute of time added on by the officials, led by history-maker Sunny Singh Gill, the first British South Asian to referee a Premier League match, and sparked wild celebrations in the away section and dugout. The rest of Selhurst Park was silenced.
Luton are now three points behind Nottingham Forest and safety, while Palace are eight points above the drop zone.
How Luton pulled off their smash and grab
Crystal Palace may have lost last weekend at Tottenham but three wins in their previous four at Selhurst Park had given them confidence on their own patch and, building on Glasner’s opening-game 3-0 win here over Burnley, they made a fast start against Luton.
It was Alfie Doughty’s error that brought the first opening and Daniel Munoz seized it, hitting the turbo boosters to charge onto the loose ball and into the Luton box, where he cut back for Mateta to convert his fifth of the season in style. Selhurst was bouncing.
Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrates after firing Crystal Palace ahead
The big striker headed another good chance over from a corner midway through the half and should have doubled his tally just before the break when a second gift came from Luton from Jordan Clark’s poor backpass. Mateta took it beyond Thomas Kaminski but the angle was tight and his finish was the wrong side of the post.
In between Mateta’s chances, Jefferson Lerma, Joel Ward and Jordan Ayew all saw opportunities come and go as Palace failed to turn their dominance into a big gap. Gabriel Osho’s header onto the roof of the Palace net on the stroke of half-time was a warning that the visitors were not out of the contest, despite being on the back foot for long periods of that opening 45.
Palace came out for the second half with the same front-foot intensity – and the same wastefulness in front of goal, with Munoz somehow failing to head in Eze’s teasing cross before the playmaker shot over from Joachim Andersen’s neatly lofted through ball.
Chiedozie Ogbene headed a warning shot wide, Carlton Morris eventually forced Sam Johnstone into his first save of the match on 66 minutes with a volley and sub Daiki Hashioka fired over from a corner as Luton began to find more joy in attack themselves.
But the bigger chances continued to come Palace’s way, with Mateta somehow not heading Tyrell Mitchell’s cross past Kaminski from close range before Naouirou Ahamada put the rebound wide with one of his first touches after coming on.
There was a sensational effort from Eze from inside the centre circle which clipped the bar with Kaminski stranded and Edouard hammered the ball against the same part of the woodwork from the edge of the box as Palace searched for the goal to round off a convincing display.
But only Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal have scored more goals in the final 15 minutes of Premier League games than Luton this season – and Palace have conceded the most. The late twist is a huge lift to Luton’s survival hopes.
What’s next?
Crystal Palace head to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League after the international break on Saturday March 30. Kick-off 3pm.
Luton’s next league fixture is at Bournemouth on Wednesday, kick-off 7.30pm. They then host Nottingham Forest on Saturday March 16. Kick-off 3pm.
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