Crystal Palace make history with 2-1 win over Brighton in tempestuous clash

Crystal Palace completed a Premier League double over rivals Brighton for the first time in their top-flight history, securing a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park in a heated contest that saw three red cards.

Jean-Philippe Mateta and Daniel Muñoz scored superb goals either side of Danny Welbeck’s equaliser, before the match descended into chaos with red cards shown to Eddie Nketiah, Marc Guehi, and Jan Paul van Hecke.

In a match reported by Sky Sports, despite going down to nine men, Palace became the first team in Premier League history to win a home match after having two players sent off.

The Eagles struck early through Mateta, who lashed home a brilliant effort just three minutes in after a perfectly timed through-ball from Eberechi Eze.

The forward’s 13th league goal of the season gave Palace an ideal start.

Brighton responded with attacking intent and nearly drew level through Carlos Baleba and Welbeck, both denied by a brilliant double save from Dean Henderson.

However, the Palace keeper was helpless when Yankuba Minteh whipped in a precise cross that Welbeck turned in to score his eighth league goal of the campaign, becoming Brighton’s all-time Premier League top scorer.

The second half lacked the spark of the first until Eze sparked a Palace counter and picked out Muñoz, who rifled a low drive past Bart Verbruggen to restore the lead.

The game then turned chaotic with three red cards in quick succession, but Palace held firm to hand Brighton their second consecutive defeat and stretch their winless run to three matches.

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