“Did Crystal Palace Deserve Their 1-1 Equalizer?” – Southampton Manager Ivan Juric Rages with Outrageous Claim After Matheus Franca’s Last-Minute Equalizer Denies Rare Victory.
Matheus Franca’s stoppage-time header for Crystal Palace denied Southampton what would have been only their third Premier League win of the season, leaving them on the brink of an unwanted record.
Franca, a substitute, secured a 1-1 draw for the Eagles, meaning Southampton will be relegated if they lose to Tottenham on the weekend and Wolves beat Ipswich. If the drop is confirmed on Sunday, Southampton will become the first team to be relegated with seven matches still to play.
Even the 2007-08 Derby County team, often regarded as the worst Premier League side, had six games remaining, as did Huddersfield in 2019 and Sheffield United four years ago.
While Southampton moved into double figures for the season, they remain one point shy of Derby’s record-low total of 11 points.
Palace arrived at St Mary’s with five straight wins and fresh off reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, form that has seen manager Oliver Glasner linked with a move to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
Looking for a seventh consecutive away win, Palace almost took the lead in the opening 90 seconds when Jean-Philippe Mateta, still sporting a heavy ear bandage from his horrific injury against Millwall, fired a 25-yard shot that crashed against the underside of the crossbar.
Palace had gone unbeaten on the road since Christmas, so it was a surprise when Southampton took the lead in the 20th minute. Mateus Fernandes combined with Flynn Downes on the right, delivering a cross for towering striker Paul Onuachu to power in a header.
The home fans sang, “We are staying up,” to which the Palace supporters responded, “Say hello to Millwall.”
Mateta looked set to equalize in the 35th minute when he spun in the box and fired a low shot, but Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale made an excellent one-handed save.
After the break, Ismaila Sarr surged forward and found Eberechi Eze, whose angled finish hit the side-netting. Eze then had a free-kick, which he blasted over after being fouled by Downes. Moments later, Eddie Nketiah was denied by Ramsdale, with the rebound bouncing off the striker and wide.
As the fourth official signaled eight minutes of stoppage time, the tension grew, and in the dying moments, Palace grabbed the equalizer. Jefferson Lerma’s cross found Franca, whose header squeezed past Ramsdale and in at the near post.
Palace nearly snatched a winner in the final seconds, but Nketiah’s quick-shot sailed just over the crossbar, leaving Southampton with a point but still facing relegation.
