Crystal Palace were heading for another sore night in Europe when Daichi Kamada stooped to poke in a late equaliser against Hoffenheim at Selhurst Park. The ball squeezed through goalkeeper Oliver Baumann's legs in the first minute of stoppage time, and a game that had been drifting away from the hosts finished 1-1.
It was a point that Pierre Sage badly needed. Palace had been behind since the seventh minute, had picked up five yellow cards, and were down to ten men for the last stretch after a second booking for Adam Wharton.
A cheap goal and a flat Selhurst
Hoffenheim's opener was their first shot of the night, and it was a soft one. Wharton lost the ball near the edge of the visitors' area, Hoffenheim broke at pace, and Lemperle crossed for Prass to fire at goal. Dean Henderson looked to have it covered, but the shot slipped under his body and over the line. Sky Sports' commentary said Henderson would not want to watch it back, and it is hard to argue.
Palace had already seen a goal chalked off for offside inside the first five minutes, and for long spells afterwards they looked short of ideas. Kamada dragged a chance wide midway through the first half, and Hoffenheim went in with three efforts on target to Palace's none. The atmosphere reflected it. Sky's reporter at the ground described the crowd as flat, partly because of the early kick-off and mostly because of what was happening on the pitch.
Cards, a red and a missed chance
The referee was quick with his notebook all evening. Pino was booked for a trip on Kramaric just before the hour, Nketiah followed a few minutes later, and Palace had five yellows before the end. Pino then had the best chance of the night to that point, played clean through by a smart touch from Wharton, only for the Hoffenheim goalkeeper to come out on top.
Then came the turning point that looked like the end. Wharton went up for an aerial ball, caught Burger with his arm, and received a second yellow in the 77th minute. Sky's man at the ground pointed out that it was Palace's third red card of the season, while Sky's William Bitibiri called the decision harsh but said the pile of earlier bookings meant something was always likely to give. Sage responded by sending on Osorio and McNeil for Ahanor and Mateta, and Palace simply threw numbers forward.
Kamada in the nick of time
The goal came from the sort of scramble that usually fails. Pino swung a cross into the area, Mitchell nodded it down, and Kamada slotted home through Baumann's legs. BBC Sport's live text put it simply: Palace had nicked a point right at the end. Sky Sports' commentary captured the mood on the touchline too, saying Sage needed it badly.
He did. The Palace manager has been under pressure for weeks, and a home defeat to a Hoffenheim side that scored with its first shot and then sat back would have made the week uncomfortable. A draw does not fix the defending errors or the discipline, but it keeps Palace in the Europa League conversation, and it gives them something to carry into Sunday's visit of Liverpool. Selhurst Park, for once, went home with a smile.
Match facts: Crystal Palace 1-1 Hoffenheim, Europa League, Selhurst Park, Thursday 5 November 2026. Goals: Prass 7 (Hoffenheim), Kamada 90+1 (Crystal Palace). Sent off: Wharton (Crystal Palace), second yellow card, 77 minutes.
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