Roefs stands tall as Palace and promoted Sunderland share a goalless stalemate

Crystal Palace were held to a 0-0 draw by newly promoted Sunderland at a damp Selhurst Park, a contest that took a long time to warm up and ultimately hinged on a superb goalkeeping display from Robin Roefs. Palace fashioned the better openings, but their finishing deserted them, while Sunderland’s structure and discipline kept the game in their grasp even when legs tired late on.

Yeremy Pino, making his first start since a £26m move, twice went close from the edge of the box and then spurned the clearest chance of the first half when Daichi Kamada slid him clean through, only for the Spaniard to drag wide with the goal gaping. The second half opened with Jean-Philippe Mateta forcing the game’s first save in the 49th minute, and from there Roefs became the central figure as Sunderland departed with a first away point and a clean sheet.

Roefs’ heroics underpin a point on the road

The visitors’ goalkeeper was unshakeable during Palace’s strongest spells. He got down sharply to turn away a Kamada effort that skidded across the slick turf and stood up well to repel Mateta from close range, with a flurry of interventions in the final quarter protecting Sunderland when they visibly began to tire. When Daniel Munoz’s delivery found Mateta for a late volley, Roefs somehow kept it out; moments later he denied substitute Christantus Uche and then smothered the follow-up from Kamada.

Across the afternoon Roefs made six saves, the kind of tally that swings a tight game. Earlier, after Mateta’s 49th-minute strike from a Tyrick Mitchell cross drew the first stop of the day, Pino’s rebound was deflected over by the impressive Omar Alderete. Those narrow margins set the tone: Palace repeatedly knocked at the door, but Sunderland’s goalkeeper and centre-backs refused to unlatch it.

Pino promises without the finish on full debut

Pino brought energy and invention to Palace’s right side and often drifted into central pockets rather than hugging the touchline. The approach produced two early sights of goal from the edge of the area and, most notably, a first‑half one-on-one created by Kamada’s deft pass that he sliced wide. Shortly after half-time he produced a lovely drop of the shoulder to glide past Granit Xhaka, but the through-ball that followed didn’t quite find Mateta.

Palace’s new look in attack inevitably bore the marks of a partnership still forming. With Eberechi Eze now at Arsenal and Ismaila Sarr and Adam Wharton missing through injury, the French striker Mateta too often lacked service. The combinations improved as Sunderland retreated, but each time a finishing touch was needed, Roefs intervened.

Plans, personnel and the margins that mattered

Sunderland arrived with a clear plan. Regis Le Bris set a compact block that restricted space between the lines, Xhaka anchored midfield, and Alderete barely put a foot wrong alongside a back line that attacked crosses decisively. When the visitors did threaten, Mitchell’s alert block at the back post prevented Chemsdine Talbi from converting Simon Adingra’s cross, and Wilson Isidor volleyed wide after a long throw caused brief panic.

The heavy downpour raised the risk-reward of every touch and pass, and the home crowd’s frustration with referee Thomas Bramall crackled as stoppages mounted. Sunderland didn’t register a shot on target, underscoring that their point was built on defensive resilience and an outstanding goalkeeper rather than attacking fluency.

Late surge, same story: Palace push, Sunderland hold

As the match ticked into the final 15 minutes, Sunderland’s energy dipped and Palace finally built wave after wave of pressure. Kamada drove low to the near post to draw a full-stretch save, Mateta crashed a close-range effort that was beaten away, and Uche came off the bench to force another stop. Palace appeals for a late penalty when Uche went down in the box added to the sense of siege but brought no reward.

For all of Palace’s pressure, Dean Henderson had little to field at the other end. Sunderland’s structure held, and when it didn’t, Roefs covered the gaps. The whistle confirmed a point apiece: a day for defenders and goalkeepers, rather than finishers.

What it means and what’s next

Sunderland remain sixth and Palace eighth, with the hosts maintaining their unbeaten start and the visitors securing their first away point of the campaign. Both managers could point to positives — Palace’s control and chance creation, Sunderland’s organisation and resolve — even if each camp also left with a sense of what might have been.

Attention now shifts quickly. Palace visit Championship side Millwall on Tuesday at 20:00 in the Carabao Cup third round. Sunderland, out of the cup after the opening round, have a full week to prepare before welcoming Aston Villa at 14:00 on Sunday, 21 September.