CRYSTAL PALACE 1-1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST: Eberechi Eze kept his cool to put the hosts in front from the penalty spot but Murillo quickly brought Forest back level as the spoils were shared at Selhurst Park
Pawn star Eberechi Eze followed his celebrity chess win with a penalty in front of England boss Thomas Tuchel.
But Brazilian Murillo stopped the FA Cup finalists checkmating Forest’s Champion League hopes with a second-half equaliser. And Nuno Espirito Santo’s side now might need to beat Chelsea on a final-day showdown to get back among the kings of Europe.
Eze won $20,000 by triumphing in the recent 12-person chess tournament – and nearly took all three points here when he hit the bar in the 89th minute after his 10th goal of the season. During nine minutes of injury time, Eze found sub Eddie Nketiah in the six-yard box but his effort was disallowed for offside.
But Forest ended a run of two defeats in London in the FA Cup semi-final and at Brentford last week – and face winnable games against Leicester and West Ham before the final day clash with another London club. The Eagles can also break their Premier League points record of 49 points – and the usual vibrant atmosphere at Selhurst Park will have impressed New York Jets owner Woody Johnson who is interested in investing in the club.
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Adam Wharton was subbed off with a foot injury after the break only 12 days before the FA Cup final. An early Wharton delivery caused confusion in the Forest box with centre-backs Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards having efforts blocked.
And in a cagey opening quarter, the biggest threat to the Palace goal came from another home defender. Tyrick Mitchell and Dean Henderson both beat Ola Aina to Ibrahim Sangare’s long ball. But in a communication breakdown, the Eagles left-back tried to head the ball back to his keeper and Henderson had to stretch out his right foot to save an own goal.
Mitchell then created Palace’s best chance of the half in a trademark wing-back to wing-back move after 35 minutes. His deep cross from the left evaded the Forest defence and Daniel Munoz ghosted in at the back post to volley straight at Matz Sels.
Needing the win, the visitors started to force the pace. They had a penalty appeal five minutes before the break when Chris Wood claimed Munoz stopped him heading Morgan Gibbs-White’s cross. Elliot Anderson should still have done better when the ball reached the far post.
The best moment of the half came in the 44th minute. A superb Forest counterattack saw Wood feed Elanga but Henderson made a super save against his former club. The second half immediately had more urgency, summed up by chances at each end in the breathless 50th minute.
Sels charged out to block an Ismaila Sarr shot after a layoff from Jean-Philippe Mateta. Aina led a counterattack and his cross found Wood in the Palace box but his shot was deflected wide by Lacroix. A goal was coming but it needed another VAR decision to help break the deadlock. Mitchell got in front of Dominguez to reach Sarr’s right wing cross but was flattened by the onrushing Sels.
Andy Madley turned down Palace appeals but booked the Belgian keeper and awarded the spot kick after reviewing the incident. Even Eze’s kick was controversial after 59 minutes with Forest players complaining about his stuttering run-up.
The lead lasted only four minutes. Henderson tipped away an Elanga free kick. But from the resulting Andersen corner, Neco Williams’ shot was deflected past the England keeper by a Murillo touch. The Brazilian defender certainly celebrated like he meant it.
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