Vitaly Janelt headed Brentford’s injury time equalizer to secure the point against Palace

Vitaly Janelt scored Brentford’s dramatic injury-time equalizer against Crystal Palace to extend their unbeaten run to 11 games.

Palace were on the verge of their first win of 2023 after substitute Eberechi Eze put them ahead.

Eze’s goal was his fourth of the season and just shy of Palace’s 21st out of 23 Premier League games.

The visitors also managed to hack away at Bees sharpshooter Ivan Toney, with Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen hitting the back.

But in the sixth minute of stoppage time, another sub, Janelt, struck to level the game at 1-1 for the high-flying hosts.

Brentford had more than their fair share of chances, however, and almost opened the scoring after seven minutes when Christian Norgaard headed narrowly wide after a tennis point in the Palace area.

Minutes later Bees keeper David Raya tipped midfielder Michael Olise’s fierce drive over the crossbar.

Toney’s first sight of goal came midway through the first half when he controlled Mathias Jensen’s pass on his chest, but managed to push his volley into the hands of Vicente Guaita.

Strike partner Bryan Mbeumo then made a couple of challenges down the middle of the field before shooting just 20 yards.

Brentford appealed for a penalty early in the second half when Toney turned in the area and fell under a challenge from Andersen, but referee Paul Tierney waved it away.

Moments later Palace almost got the Bees out on the counter-attack but Jeffrey Schlupp’s header flew wide.

Norgaard looked a header just off target from Aaron Hickey’s free-kick and Guaita got out of his back smartly to deny Yoane Wissa as he headed through the goal.

Norgaard’s shot was then kept out by Guaita before Palace threatened with Jordan Ayew’s cross and Jean-Philippe Mateta headed it.

The goal came in the 69th minute when Ayew raided Brentford on the right and pulled the ball back across the goal.

It was played out by Olise who lifted the ball back into the area for Eze to power home.

Brentford tried to hit back as Toney made space for himself in the area but fired his shot over the bar.

Palace almost had a second late when Naouirou Ahamada’s free-kick met Raya’s dive, but the ball rolled inches wide of the far post.

Instead, as the clock ticked down, Mbeumo crossed from the right and Janelt headed home a point.

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