Late strike sees Charlton win

Crystal Palace 0 Charlton 1

Substitute Dennis Rommedahl scored a fine winner with seconds remaining to seal Charlton’s second away win in the Premiership this season – and leave Crystal Palace striker Andy Johnson distraught.

Charlton goalkeeper Dean Kiely denied Johnson his 10th goal of the season in the 57th minute with a brilliant penalty save, and that intervention seemed to have ensured the game would end goalless.

But with time ticking away at the end of this dull match, Danny Murphy spotted Rommedahl, who had replaced the injured Jonatan Johansson early in the first half, alone on the right.

The Denmark star’s finish was devastating as he eluded Danny Granville before unleashing a low drive which Gabor Kiraly was powerless to keep out.

It was harsh on Palace, for whom Aki Riihilahti hit the bar and Johnson went close on other occasions, and a draw would have been a fair result.

But Charlton will point to chances of their own wasted by Matt Holland and Jerome Thomas, and Alan Curbishley’s men may feel that their more measured approach merited the three points.

Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie stuck with the same team which drew 2-2 at Southampton last weekend.

Ben Watson passed a late fitness test on a thigh injury, while fellow midfielder Riihilahti retained his place in the side despite suffering from Achilles problems.

Charlton chief Curbishley made only one alteration to the side thrashed 4-0 at home by Chelsea last weekend, with Hermann Hreidarsson replacing Paul Konchesky.

Palace made the better start and could have taken the lead in the third minute. Joonas Kolkka sent over an inviting cross from the left, but Emmerson Boyce, breaking into the box, just failed to make contact with a header.

Johnson saw a looping effort caught by Dean Kiely, while Charlton’s best early opportunities were both wasted by Johansson.

In the 12th minute, the Finnish striker failed to control the ball after being played in by Murphy, and three minutes later Johansson headed straight at Gabor Kiraly.

Johansson then picked up what looked like a hamstring injury and was replaced by Rommedahl in the 19th minute, shortly before Radostin Kishishev’s fierce 30-yard drive flew narrowly wide of the Palace goal.

The best chance of the half came in the 24th minute. After Wayne Routledge had lost possession for Palace, Murphy swept the ball wide to Thomas, whose left-wing cross was nodded just past Kiraly’s right post by Holland.

Murphy was booked in the 31st minute for excessive protesting when referee Matt Messias waved play on after Shaun Bartlett seemed to have been obstructed by Tony Popovic.

Murphy’s side were indebted to timely clearances by centre-backs Talal El Karkouri and Jonathan Fortune to keep them on terms after Routledge had escaped Hreidarsson down the right before pulling the ball back.

Murphy – along with Thomas – looked Charlton’s liveliest player going forward but, after he had created space for himself down the right, the former Liverpool midfielder hit his cross beyond the unmarked Thomas at the far post.

Riihilahti came desperately close to putting Palace in front after 42 minutes, but his header from Joonas Kolkka’s cross bounced up and hit the crossbar with Kiely beaten.

At the other end, Kiraly saved smartly from Thomas’ close-range effort in first-half stoppage time.

Palace wasted a glorious opportunity to take the lead 12 minutes into the second half.

Racing onto Watson’s through ball, Johnson was brought down inside the area by El Karkouri’s desperate lunge from behind.

Referee Messias awarded a penalty, but Johnson was denied his 10th goal of the season by Kiely’s brilliant save, the former Ireland international diving to his left to push the ball around the post.

In the 67th minute, Kolkka collected Watson’s pass on the left before cutting inside and drilling in a 22-yard shot that Kiely did well to hold.

Johnson burst clear again two minutes later, but this time El Karkouri was able to match him for pace and concede a corner with a well-timed block.

In the 71st minute, Rommedahl fired in a low shot from 30 yards for Charlton which was comfortably gathered by Kiraly.

Both managers made changes in the closing stages as they sought to secure victory, Vassilis Lakis replacing Kolkka for Palace and Bartlett making way for Francis Jeffers for the Addicks.

Johnson was trying his utmost to make up for his earlier error from the spot.

Eight minutes from time, he showed excellent technique to control a long clearance upfield, but his effort from a tight angle was kept out by Kiely.

The lively Routledge found space down the right to deliver a fine cross for Palace with a minute left, but Jonathan Fortune headed behind to prevent Lakis heading home.

With a goalless draw appearing inevitable, Murphy fed Rommedahl on the right deep into injury time, and the Dane beat Granville before drilling a fierce drive past Kiraly.