Football
2017/2018 English Premier League
BOU 
2
FT
 CRY
2
PA Sport 6y

Late Bournemouth leveller keeps Crystal Palace in trouble

Bournemouth twice recovered from a losing position to secure a 2-2 draw at home to Crystal Palace thanks to substitute Joshua King's 89th-minute goal.

Palace had twice led through second-half finishes from Luka Milivojevic and Wilfried Zaha, but were then denied a crucial victory that would have taken them five points clear of the bottom three.

King's fellow Bournemouth substitute Lys Mousset had earlier scored with one of his first touches after his introduction, and between them they ensured that Palace remain 17th and under threat of relegation from the Premier League.

Palace, who in the absence of the injured Christian Benteke reverted to Zaha and Andros Townsend in an unorthodox front two, struggled without the Belgian striker's physical presence.

For all of his struggles in front of goal, Zaha consistently thrives alongside Benteke and, without the focal point he provides, Palace struggled to retain possession in the final third.

His frustrations became evident during a first-half clash with Lewis Cook, for which he was fortunate not to be booked, and Roy Hodgson's team were equally fortunate that their hosts were struggling to create clear chances despite their dominance of the ball.

Beyond Charlie Daniels volleying over following a corner and Callum Wilson also wasting a fine chance -- immediately after Zaha had wasted another when taking too many touches and conceding possession -- they offered little threat throughout the first half.

From the point of Palace taking the lead in the 47th minute, that changed significantly. After Jermain Defoe had fouled Yohan Cabaye on the edge of the area, Milivojevic, on his 27th birthday, curled his finish into the top right corner and beyond Asmir Begovic.

The hosts responded, first Marc Pugh and then the impressive Lewis Cook testing Wayne Hennessey with curling efforts that forced the goalkeeper into two diving saves.

Patrick van Aanholt was then sent one-on-one with Begovic when Zaha led a break as Bournemouth pushed up, but shot harmlessly at the goalkeeper.

After Begovic had also saved again, this time from Zaha, Mousset came off the bench to replace Pugh and scored with virtually his first touch in the 65th minute.

When the returning James Tomkins' defensive header fell to Ryan Fraser inside the area he then set it back to Mousset, who bent first time beyond Mamadou Sakho and Hennessey and into the bottom right corner.

From another attack on the edge of the area in the 75th minute, Zaha wasted a shooting opportunity with his decision making, but his outstanding footwork and skill created another and this time he finished into the top left, via a deflection off Steve Cook.

If the central defender felt responsible, he then made a significant contribution to the late equalising goal that means Bournemouth sit 11th.

From a left-wing corner Cook nodded on to King who -- left unmarked by Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the back post -- finished from immediately in front of goal to deny Palace.

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