- Swansea led 3-1 after 75 minutes
- Palace then scored 3 goals in nine minutes to lead 4-3
- Llorente scores twice in final minute
- First American to win in PL
Bob Bradley’s first win as the manager of Swansea City will go down as one of the greatest games in Premier League history as they won 5-4 at Crystal Palace on Saturday at the Liberty Stadium
After falling behind to Wilfried Zaha’s strike in the first half, Swansea surged back with goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson and two from Leroy Fer putting them 3-1 up with 15 minutes to go.
That’s when the fun started.
Palace then scored three goals in nine minutes through James Tomkins, an own goal and Christian Benteke to led 4-3 going into the 90th minute.
Fernando Llorente wasn’t having any of that. The Spanish striker scored twice late on to sent the Liberty Stadium wild and seal a dramatic 5-4 win as Bradley and his coaching staff celebrated jubiliantly at the final whistle.
At his fifth attempt, Bradley, the first American to ever coach in the Premier League, had hit first win. It is one that will not be forgotten for many, many years.
The win moves Swansea onto eight points for the season, while Palace have now lost six-straight games with Alan Pardew’s job increasingly under threat.
[ MORE: Watch full PL match replays ]
Early on a corner from the right was headed down by Scott Dann and it eventually found Benteke at the back post but he put his effort over the bar. A great chance squandered by Palace.
Swansea had a decent chance with Modou Barrow setting up Gylfi Sigurdsson but he scuffed his effort.
[ MORE: Latest Premier League standings ]
Palace took the lead less than 20 minutes in as Benteke flicked the ball on and Zaha beat his man and drilled a low shot in on goal. A deserved 1-0 lead to Palace.
7 - Gylfi Sigurdsson has been directly involved in seven of Swansea's 12 goals in the PL this season (4 goals, 3 assists). Talisman.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 26, 2016
Swansea then drew level as Sigurdsson curled home a wonderful free kick from the edge of the box as Bob Bradley punched the air in delight 1-1.
Before half time Palace could have been ahead as Zaha’s header hit the crossbar and then Benteke and Connor Wickham got in each other’s way on the rebound, while at the other end Swansea went close through Wayne Routledge and Barrow but they both hit their shots over the bar.
[ VIDEO: Premier League highlights ]
In the second half Palace were dealt a blow early on as Wickham had to be subbed off and soon it got a lot worse for the Eagles.
In the space of two minutes Fer struck twice for the Swans, first tapping home from close range after Fernando Llorente’s header was cleared off the line and then he finished off Jordi Amat’s flick to put the home fans in heaven.
Soon, they were in hell.
[ MORE: Full lineups, stats, box score ]
Late on Palace pulled a goal back to make things interesting with Dann’s downward header bundled over the line by Tomkins. 3-2 with 15 minutes to go. Then a freak own goal made it 3-3 as a cross from the left flicked off Jack Cork’s head and in.
It then got worse for Swansea as Benteke knocked home from close range in the 84th minute to make it 4-3 which left Palace delirious and Swansea in tatters.
Then, the game turned on its head again as Llorente struck in the 90th minute to make it 4-4 and then again in stoppage time to hand Swansea a miraculous 5-4 victory.
Bob Bradley is off and running at Swansea and the momentum they gain from this game could be crucial in their battle against relegation.
