Stoppage-Time Grealish Winner Ends Palace’s Unbeaten Run

Jack Grealish's stoppage-time winner earned Everton a 2-1 comeback victory over Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday afternoon, the Blues fighting from a goal down to record an impressive three points.

The visitors arrived on Merseyside with a 19-match unbeaten run in all competitions, and they carried on their fine form in the early stages, opening the scoring through Daniel Munoz’s first-half strike.

Everton rode their luck at times, with Palace seeing chances cleared off the line, hitting the woodwork and saved by Pickford, but the Toffees fought their way back into the contest, eventually notching a leveller from Iliman Ndiaye’s 76th-minute spot-kick. 

But the key moment of the game didn't arrive until 93 minutes, when Grealish converted from close range to net his first Everton goal, edging David Moyes' men unto the lead in the dying moments.

Moyes made two changes to the starting line-up who drew with West Ham United on Monday night, bringing in Tyler Dibling – in a first Premier League start for the Club – for the suspended Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, while Thierno Barry was switched in for Beto up front. 

The visiting Palace began on the front foot, forcing Jordan Pickford – in his 300th Premier League game for Everton – into making two saves during the opening two minutes of a top-flight game for the first time.

Everton responded well, seeing an effort from Jack Grealish saved, while Vitalii Mykolenko fired a long ranger over the bar. But Palace almost found an opener on 19 minutes.

A long throw was hurled into the box by Chris Richards, flicked on and bouncing to Marc Guehi. He struck a deflected effort at goal from inside the six-yard box, but Pickford was on hand to stick out an arm and make a stunning stop. 

Tyrick Mitchell followed this seven minutes later, crashing a shot against the woodwork after an ambitious run down the Eagles’ left flank.

Palace edged into the lead on 37 minutes through wing-back Munoz, finishing from a well-worked counter-attack. Running at the Everton defence through the middle of the field, Ismaila Sarr picked pushed it to Munoz in space on the right side of the box. Pickford rushed out, but the Colombian stroked the ball in at the near post.  

Looking for reinforcements a half-time, Moyes introduced Beto and Charly Alcaraz – substituted in for Dibling and Barry. 

The Toffees appeared revitalised after the restart, pushing for a leveller and keeping up the pressure on Dean Henderson’s goal.

But Palace continue to danger the Everton backline, and with an hour gone, almost found a second. This time, Mateta saw a chipped effort cleared off the line by Jake O’Brien’s headed clearance.

They came close again a few minutes later through Mateta, dragging the ball wide of the Everton goal after Pickford had rushed out to stop an earlier chance.

Michael Keane – struggling with an injury felt earlier in the half – then headed off the field on 65 minutes, still feeling discomfort. He was replaced by Tim Iroegbunam.  

Everton kept up the potent threat on the Eagles’ goal, recording an equalising through an Ndiaye spot-kick on 76 minutes.

Substitute Iroegbunam was fouled by Maxence Lacroix’s mistimed sliding challenge inside the 18-yard-box – an easy decision for referee Michael Salisbury.

Ndiaye stepped up to take the penalty, sending Henderson the wrong finish with a calm finish in front of the South Stand.

Everton looked the better side in the closing stages of the game, and found a hard-earned winner on 93 minutes, Grealish pouncing on a loose ball inside the box to deflect a clearance goalwards and past Henderson, sending Hill Dickinson Stadium into an explosion of celebration - and sending the Blues into eighth place in the Premier League table.