Replays showed minimal contact, and there was a long wait as VAR reviewed the decision. As the game got back underway with a Brentford free-kick, it became clear – later confirmed by the PGMOL – that the referee’s whistle had come before the ball hit the back of the net, and therefore the VAR could not intervene and overturn the decision.
Football is a cruel game, and so it was on this occasion as Brentford opened the scoring from the very next attack, as Bryan Mbeumo showed fantastic poise to cut inside and hammer an effort past Dean Henderson.
The Eagles made a change at the break, with Odsonne Edouard replacing Jean-Philippe Mateta, and the push for an equaliser began in earnest. It didn’t take long, too – although it came from an unlikely source.
The assist and much of the credit must go to Daniel Muñoz, who showed tenacity to rescue a cross to the far post and nod back into the six-yard box. Under pressure from Edouard, Ethan Pinnock reacted, only to stab the ball past his own goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Palace had the ball in the net once again a minute later, with Edouard slotting home, but the flag was raised and replays showed that the centre-forward had strayed narrowly offside.
The Eagles were left rueing their missed chances when Brentford retook the lead. A deep cross into Nathan Collins was chested down on the turn, with the shot scuffed and spinning goalwards, taking a major deflection of Muñoz. Henderson reacted to get across with a desperate dive, but his fingertips could only push it into the path of the onrushing Yoanne Wissa, who watched it bobble over the line.
Palace pushed once again for the equaliser, with Eze dancing into the penalty area and letting fly. His shot was deflected and looked to be heading for the back of the net, only for Flekken to somehow get a firm hand behind it and push it away.
Effort after effort was somehow saved or flashing narrowly wide, and despite pushing on deep into four minutes of added time, there was no way through.
For Palace, West Ham await at Selhurst Park next Saturday.
Brentford: Flekken (GK) Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, Ajer, Nørgaard, Janelt (Damsgaard, 73), Jensen (Carvalho¸85), Mbuemo (Mee, 90), Wissa (Onyeka, 85), Schade (Lewis-Potter, 73).
Subs: Valdimarsson (GK), Yarmolyuk, Peart-Harris, Trevitt.
Palace: Henderson (GK), Mitchell, Guéhi, Andersen, Richards (Sarr, 84), Muñoz, Hughes (Doucouré, 84), Wharton (Lerma, 74), Kamada (Ayew, 70), Eze, Mateta (Edouard, HT).
Subs: Johnstone (GK), Clyne, Riad, Schlupp.
As it happened