Crystal Palace 1-1 Hoffenheim: Kamada Scores Stoppage-Time Equaliser

Daichi Kamada scored in the first minute of stoppage time to give Crystal Palace a 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim in the Europa League at Selhurst Park on Thursday night. Palace trailed from the seventh minute and played the closing stages with ten men, but they kept pushing and got their goal at the end.

Alexander Prass put Hoffenheim ahead early, finishing with his left foot from a Tim Lemperle pass. The goal changed the night. Palace had to chase the game against a German side that defended its lead well and looked set to become only the second away team to win a European game at Selhurst Park since the start of the 2025-26 season.

Palace keep pushing

Palace pressed for the equaliser through the second half without finding a way through. The task got harder late in the game when they went down to ten men, but the home side did not sit back. In the first minute of stoppage time, Tyrick Mitchell cushioned a header into the path of Kamada, and the Japan midfielder finished to level the score and spark loud celebrations in the stands.

Manager Pierre Sage praised his players for their belief after the game. He said his side had conceded early but pushed throughout the match for the equaliser, even after going a man down, and claimed a point their effort deserved. Mitchell also pointed to the resilience of the group, saying the team kept going until the end and was rewarded.

What it means

The draw leaves Palace on five points at the halfway stage of the league phase. It is not the win the home crowd wanted, but a point taken this late, with ten men, keeps Palace in the mix as the league phase turns toward its second half.

Palace are back in action on Sunday, when Liverpool visit Selhurst Park in the league. Their next European game is also at home, against Real Sociedad on Thursday, November 26.

Hoffenheim held the lead for more than 80 minutes and will feel they let two points slip, but a point away from home in London still keeps the German side in a strong position in the league phase. For Palace, the late goal mattered beyond the point itself. Selhurst Park has been a hard place for visiting teams in Europe this season, and the home crowd stayed with the team even when the game looked lost and the numbers on the pitch turned against them.