Substitute Christian Benteke has thumped home a dramatic last-ditch volley, giving Crystal Palace a 2-1 Premier League victory at bitter rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.
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The Belgium striker lashed in Andros Townsend's cross in the fifth minute of added time to return Palace to winning ways after successive defeats, which had led to growing supporter unrest.
Brighton dominated proceedings at Amex Stadium and levelled through Joel Veltman after the Eagles led at halftime courtesy of a superb, back-heeled finished from French forward Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Palace showed little ambition for much of the match and once again struggled to create in the absence of injured talisman Wilfried Zaha, with the two superb goals their only attempts on target.
"I think it's a massive result. We put our life on the pitch and defended as much as we could and then I had the chance to score a great goal," Benteke told Sky Sports.
"It means a lot and it was all about three points and we can be proud. Sometimes it was ugly but we got there."
Yet, Eagles manager Roy Hodgson will be more than satisfied with a result that has them 13th, 10 points above the relegation zone and closing in on the 38-points mark that should secure survival this season.
"I am really pleased with the guts and determination and the fight, and I am really pleased with the shape of the team," Palace boss Roy Hodgson told Sky Sports.
"We kept going and came away with the ultimate points total from the game.
"I am happy with 32 points, but I will be even happier when we have 38 on the board."
Defeat for Brighton halted their club-record unbeaten league run at six games, while scuppering their hopes of leapfrogging their fiercest foes for the first time this season.
Graham Potter's men remain just four points clear of the bottom three, in 16th spot, after failing to capitalise on their superiority.
"It's a very sore one, that's for sure. We did everything but get the points and that is the most important thing, so it is very disappointing," Potter told Sky Sports.
"It was a one-sided game in terms of attempts at goal and pressure and chances, but they get the goal there right at the end - that's life."
Australian Associated Press
