Palace rue missed chances as inspired Roefs denies a deserved Selhurst win

Crystal Palace did most of the probing and almost all of the forcing in a 0-0 draw with newly promoted Sunderland, yet left Selhurst Park nursing frustration rather than celebration. The hosts carved out the clearest openings, particularly after the break, but a superb Robin Roefs performance and a couple of key defensive interventions kept the Eagles at bay.

Yeremy Pino’s full debut brought energy and invention and also the game’s pivotal first-half moment: a slide-rule pass from Daichi Kamada sent the Spaniard clean through, only for the finish to skew wide. Jean-Philippe Mateta then drew the afternoon’s first save in the 49th minute, triggering a spell where Palace were firmly on top without ever finding the clincher.

New-look attack shines in flashes but lacks the final touch

Oliver Glasner’s reshaped front line of Pino, Kamada and Mateta showed why it can excite, even if fluency will take time. Pino twice threatened from the edge of the box and, after the interval, sat Granit Xhaka down with a sumptuous drop of the shoulder, only for the follow-up pass to drift away from Mateta. The manager noted this trio had just one training session together, which tracked with a first half that yielded little by way of clear-cut chances.

The broader context mattered, too. After Eberechi Eze’s move to Arsenal and with Ismaila Sarr and Adam Wharton injured, Palace lacked two of last season’s major sources of supply for Mateta. The Frenchman led the line diligently but was often isolated; when service finally improved, Sunderland’s goalkeeper met it with answers.

Roefs slams the door: Kamada, Mateta and Uche all denied

The second-half pattern was clear: Palace turned the screw, Sunderland clung on through their goalkeeper. Roefs smothered a skidding Kamada strike, beat away a close-range Mateta effort from a Daniel Munoz cross, and somehow got in the way of another Mateta volley as Selhurst roared for a late winner. When Christantus Uche arrived off the bench to add fresh impetus, the Dutchman blocked his low strike and recovered in time to thwart the follow-up.

Earlier, after Mateta forced the 49th‑minute save from a Tyrick Mitchell delivery, Pino’s instinctive rebound was deflected over by Omar Alderete. Those fine margins defined the afternoon: Palace did enough to win on territory and chances, but Roefs’ six saves were decisive.

Control without reward and the call that never came

Palace largely controlled the contest, restricting Sunderland to no shots on target while Dean Henderson remained a bystander. Even the visitors’ best look — a back‑post arrival from Chemsdine Talbi — was blocked by the ever-alert Mitchell. As the heavens opened and the game stretched, the Eagles were the team with the ideas and the momentum.

There was late controversy as Uche tumbled under pressure in the box, with Glasner adamant his side should have had a penalty. The home crowd’s patience had already frayed with referee Thomas Bramall, and the non-award did little to cool matters. Still, the defensive structure held firm, and the unbeaten start to the season remained intact.

Perspective, platform, and a quick reset

Glasner could still find positives. He felt Palace had done enough to take the points in the closing stages and praised Pino’s overall display even if the finishing touch eluded him. The shape looked secure with Marc Guehi slotting smoothly back on the left of the back three, and Mitchell contributed at both ends with a vital block and a fine cross that led to the day’s first on-target effort.

The table stays tight, with Palace eighth and still looking up at Sunderland in sixth. The performance suggested the attack is moving in the right direction; the missing piece is efficiency. The ideal place to sharpen it arrives immediately: a Carabao Cup tie at Millwall on Tuesday at 20:00, before league duties resume.