Burnley's Remarkable Comeback Stuns Crystal Palace in Premier League Thriller
In a stunning Premier League turnaround, Burnley fought back from a two-goal deficit to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The match was decided by a heartbreaking own goal from defender Jefferson Lerma in the closing moments of the first half, capping off a remarkable six-minute spell that completely transformed the game.
From Despair to Delight in Six Minutes
Crystal Palace appeared to be cruising toward a comfortable victory after new signing Jørgen Strand Larsen scored his first two goals for the club. The Norwegian striker, who joined for £48 million, opened the scoring with a powerful finish from Adam Wharton's exquisite through ball, then doubled the lead with a diving header from Jefferson Lerma's cross following a defensive error from Kyle Walker.
With Burnley facing the prospect of matching their club's 17-match winless streak dating back to 1890, everything changed dramatically just before halftime. The visitors suddenly sprang to life, scoring three goals in a breathtaking six-minute period that left the home crowd stunned.
The Comeback Unfolds
Burnley's revival began when Hannibal Mejbri beat goalkeeper Dean Henderson with an excellent finish, giving the visitors hope. Just minutes later, Jaidon Anthony equalized with a composed finish into the bottom corner, though there were questions about a possible handball by Lesley Ugochukwu in the buildup.
The decisive moment came when defender Jefferson Lerma, who had earlier assisted Palace's second goal, inadvertently turned the ball into his own net after Bashir Humphreys' header was saved by Henderson. The Colombian international could only watch helplessly as the ball rolled over the line, giving Burnley an unlikely halftime lead.
Second Half Resistance
Crystal Palace emerged early for the second half, clearly having received strong words from manager Oliver Glasner. Despite introducing £35 million forward Brennan Johnson and creating several opportunities, Palace struggled to break down Burnley's determined defense.
Daichi Kamada missed the target from Daniel Muñoz's cross, and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka made a brilliant late save to deny Ismaïla Sarr in injury time. Burnley's small but vocal traveling supporters celebrated wildly as their team held on for only their second away victory since promotion.
Relegation Battle Implications
This result keeps Burnley's slim survival hopes alive, though manager Scott Parker knows his team will need several more performances like this to complete what would be a remarkable escape from relegation. For Crystal Palace, the defeat serves as a stark reminder that they remain in relegation danger despite recently ending their own 12-match winless run with a victory over Brighton.
The match had begun with ominous signs for Burnley, whose team bus was caught in heavy traffic, causing a 10-minute delay to kickoff. Parker had never won a league match in London as an away manager, and Palace hadn't lost at home to a promoted side since 2017. All those statistics were rendered meaningless by Burnley's extraordinary comeback, which will be remembered as one of the season's most dramatic turnarounds.
