Yoane Wissa produced a goal and assist as Brentford beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Wissa rolled in a 76th minute winner after he latched onto Dean Henderson’s save of Nathan Collins’ shot.
The 27 year-old though had been involved in the opening goal with an assist, as he teed up Bryan Mbeumo to deliver a 29th minute curled strike from his pass.
Palace had equalised in the 56th minute through Ethan Pinnock’s own-goal after the defender turned Daniel Munoz’s knockdown header into his own net.
Post-match, Brentford boss – Thomas Frank described the result as a morale booster as he explained: “A win is always important, in every aspect. It just gives us a boost – but I want more.”
It was a tough game, against a good Crystal Palace side. The first 20 minutes, we started badly – or credit to Palace for starting well – then we grew back into the game, and got better and better; we scored an unbelievable goal.
Coming into this season off the back of their worst Premier League finish, Brentford enjoyed a strong start as Yoane Wissa forced an early corner from Marc Guehi’s clearance of his cross.
Palace however soon grew into the game and Will Hughes almost met a fifth-minute cross from Joachim Andersen, but he found himself crowded out by Mark Flekken’s block.
Tyrick Mitchell then volleyed wide two minutes later across goal from a headed clearance.
Thomas Frank’s Bees however dug in and almost took a 18th minute lead but Mbeumo’s curled shot was saved by Henderson.
Palace however wasted two chances to take the lead from set-pieces, as Eberechi Eze initially rifled wide from a free-kick after he had been fouled by Yoane Wissa, upon intercepting Flekken’s pass on the edge of the box.
Eze however didn’t miss six minutes later from circa 25 yards with a tightly-executed free-kick on the right flank, following Mathias Jensen’s foul on Adam Wharton.
Referee, Samuel Barrot however disallowed the goal due to Hughes’ shove on Nathan Collins.
Brentford in response broke forward up the other end on the cusp of the half-hour mark, in which Wissa played Mbeumo forward to cut in and he calmly curled his shot into the left corner to open the scoring.
Palace attempted to mount a response before half-time but were lucky not to concede a second goal, as Kevin Schade cut in from the left yet could only hit his shot wide as the hosts held onto their slender lead at the break.
Palace made a central change at half-time as Jean-Philippe Mateta was substituted for Odsonne Edouard.
Henderson however came to Palace’s rescue just two minutes into the second half, as he saved Ethan Pinnock’s knockdown header to keep Brentford’s lead to just one goal.
Palace’ Adam Wharton fired wide from a short 49th minute corner which found him on the edge of the box, courtesy of Daichi Kamada’s pass.
Wharton then saw another shot denied via a block by Flekken four minutes later, albeit after Vitaly Janelt had volleyed over from a Brentford corner a minute earlier.
Palace eventually found their equaliser late in the 56th minute as a deep cross was knocked down by Munoz, yet Pinnock could only roll the ball into his own net to restore parity.
Edouard then doubled Palace’s lead three minutes later from Eze’s short pass but the Frenchman’s goal was disallowed, due to him having been offside when the pass was made.
Palace proceeded to control the game until the 76th minute when Collins unleashed a scruffy strike, which Henderson spilled for Wissa to sweep in and roll into the empty net to put the hosts back in front.
Glasner’s Eagles consequently went on a late attack in search of a second equaliser but were denied in the 82nd minute, as Flekken crucially blocked Eze’s shot after the England international broke forward into space inside the box.
Brentford eventually clung on to avoid defeat for the fourth straight season in their opening match of a new campaign, plus picked up their first Premier League win over Palace.
What’s Next?
Brentford head to Anfield on Sunday 25 August at 4:30pm BST to take on Liverpool, in a match which marks Arnie Slot’s first home match as the Reds’ manager.
Palace will once again face London-based opposition but at home, as Oliver Glasner’s Eagles host West Ham at 3pm BST on Saturday 24 August at Selhurst Park.
Teams
Brentford – Mark Flekken, Mads Roerslev, Nathan Collins, Ethan Pinnock, Kristoffer Ajer, Christian Norgaard, Vitaly Janelt (Damsgaard 74′), Mathias Jensen (Onyeka 83′), Bryan Mbeumo (Mee 90′), Kevin Schade (Lewis-Potter 74′), Yoane Wissa (Carvalho 83′)
Substitutes: Hakon Valdimarsson, Fabio Carvalho, Frank Onyeka, Ben Mee, Yehor Yarmoliuk, Keane Lewis-Potter, Mikkel Damsgaard, Myles Peart-Harris, Ryan Trevitt
Crystal Palace – Dean Henderson, Daniel Munoz, Chris Richards (Sarr 84′), Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell, Adam Wharton (Lerma 74′), Will Hughes (Doucoure 84′), Daichi Kamada (Ayew 70′), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Edouard 46′), Eberechi Eze
Substitutes: Sam Johnstone, Chadi Riad, Nathaniel Clyne, Jeffrey Schlupp, Jefferson Lerma, Cheick Doucoure, Jordan Ayew, Ismaila Sarr, Odsonne Edouard
Referee – Samuel Barrot
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