Daichi Kamada celebrates his goal with a knee slideImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Crystal Palace have still won just one of their first four Europa League games

ByAdam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

Daichi Kamada netted a last-gasp equaliser to rescue a draw for Crystal Palace at home to Hoffenheim in the Europa League.

Kamada prodded home from close range, sending the ball through goalkeeper Oliver Baumann's legs, to level for Pierre Sage's side in stoppage time.

The German visitors had looked destined to win at Selhurst Park as Palace, who had Adam Wharton sent off, struggled to find a way through despite enjoying long spells of possession.

Palace started the game promisingly, but Hoffenheim took the lead when Alexander Prass met a Tim Limperle cross and fired a low shot which slipped awkwardly underneath goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who should have done better.

The visitors almost doubled their advantage when Andrej Kramaric connected with a volley from close range and forced Henderson to make a sharp save.

Hoffenheim continued to cause problems with their direct attacking play, while Palace initially struggled to find any rhythm after falling behind.

Palace began to find their feet towards the end of the first half, with some neat passing moves helping them disrupt Hoffenheim's increasingly deep defence.

Prospects of avoiding defeat seemed to worsen for Palace, though, when Wharton was shown a second yellow card late on for a foul on Wouter Burger, catching the opponent with his right arm in an aerial challenge.

But they continued to look for chances as they set up camp in the attacking third and eventually managed to snatch a goal and a point thanks to Japan international Kamada.

A tough test awaits Palace in their next match when they host Liverpool (14:00 GMT) in their last Premier League game before the international break. They sit 18th in the table, with Sage's future coming under scrutiny.

Player of the match

Number: 18 D. Kamada
Average rating 7.08
Number: 18 D. Kamada
Average Rating: 7.08
Number: 10 Yéremy Pino
Average Rating: 6.60
Number: 3 T. Mitchell
Average Rating: 6.13
Number: 1 D. Henderson
Average Rating: 6.09
Number: 23 Q. Timber
Average Rating: 5.94
Number: 26 C. Richards
Average Rating: 5.85
Number: 24 D. Osorio
Average Rating: 5.80
Number: 14 J. Mateta
Average Rating: 5.64
Number: 11 D. McNeil
Average Rating: 5.60
Number: 6 J. Canvot
Average Rating: 5.42
Number: 30 Óscar Mingueza
Average Rating: 5.26
Number: 21 H. Ahanor
Average Rating: 5.26
Number: 9 E. Nketiah
Average Rating: 5.18
Number: 20 A. Wharton
Average Rating: 5.08
Number: 25 A. Khalaili
Average Rating: 4.55

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

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