Leeds United Hold Crystal Palace To 0-0 Draw After Calvert-Lewin Penalty Miss

Add as a preferred source on Google

Leeds United left Selhurst Park with a goalless draw against Crystal Palace after a tense contest shaped by Gabriel Gudmundsson’s first-half dismissal and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s missed penalty, as Daniel Farke’s side survived more than 45 minutes with 10 players to collect a valuable Premier League point.

The visitors produced notable defensive discipline under pressure, limiting Palace to few clear chances and none on target after the red card. Walter Benitez, making a Premier League debut in place of unwell Dean Henderson, denied Calvert-Lewin with a key first-half save before Leeds’ striker dragged a penalty wide.

Opta highlighted the display with an unusual record, stating that Leeds became the only team on record, since 2003-04, to have a player sent off before half-time in a Premier League match and still avoid allowing a single shot on target across the full game at Selhurst Park.

The meeting was also notable for its lack of fluency, with only 190 completed passes recorded before the break. That figure represented the lowest first-half total in a Premier League fixture since Burnley faced Cardiff City in April 2019, reflecting a battle that relied more on duels than sustained possession.

Palace believed they had finally forced a breakthrough on 78 minutes. Jefferson Lerma first saw a close-range effort superbly blocked by Karl Darlow, before heading in the rebound. Celebrations were cut short, however, when Brennan Johnson was judged offside during the short-corner routine that created the chance.

Earlier, Leeds had looked the sharper attacking unit in open play. Brenden Aaronson flashed a volley narrowly off target, while Calvert-Lewin’s powerful header was kept out by Benitez, who reacted sharply on his top-flight bow. Those moments arrived before the contest’s decisive disciplinary incidents late in the first half.

The turning point came around the 45th minute. Will Hughes handled inside the area, handing Leeds a major opportunity from 12 yards, but Calvert-Lewin pulled the penalty wide. Moments later Gudmundsson, already cautioned for a foul on Brennan Johnson, flew into a rash challenge on Ismaila Sarr and received a second yellow card.

Gudmundsson’s dismissal carried historic context for Leeds. The defender became the first Leeds player to collect two yellow cards in the opening half of a Premier League match since Mark Viduka against Bolton Wanderers in May 2004. Yet the reduced side maintained structure and limited Palace to speculative positions.

Penalty issues continued a theme for Farke’s team. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, only Liverpool and Fulham have missed more Premier League penalties than Leeds, who remained on four unsuccessful attempts following Calvert-Lewin’s failure from the spot.

Palace’s attacking frustration also aligned with recent trends under Oliver Glasner. The side failed to score in back-to-back home games in all competitions for only the second time with Glasner in charge. Henderson, who last started a Premier League game for Palace in March 2024, missed out through illness as Benitez stepped in.

The stalemate left both teams with reasons for regret and satisfaction. Leeds will reflect on a missed penalty and red card but still earned a point through organisation and work rate, while Palace saw a late goal disallowed and could not turn territorial pressure into the winner the home crowd expected.