Dango Ouattara scored twice as European hopefuls Brentford came from behind on two occasions to earn a 2-2 draw against Conference League finalists Crystal Palace at the Gtech Community Stadium. Adam Wharton's first goal in 94 Palace appearances looked set to settle a London derby that Oliver Glasner's heavily rotated side largely controlled, only for Ouattara to head home in the 88th minute and set up a frantic finale.
Ismaila Sarr's early penalty and Wharton's low second-half drive twice put the visitors in front, but Brentford responded each time - the first equaliser arriving in the flukiest of circumstances when a clearance struck Ouattara in the face. The result leaves Brentford in eighth, a position that currently equates to a Uefa Conference League spot, while Palace dropped to 15th with their attention firmly on a European final 10 days away.
VAR drama hands Palace the perfect start
Palace were dangerous from the first whistle and were gifted an early opening when Caoimhin Kelleher slid in and brought down Sarr inside the area in the opening minutes. Referee Sam Barrott initially waved away the appeals and pointed for a corner, but after being sent to the monitor by the video assistant he overturned his decision and awarded the penalty.