I played in Premier League classic that left Luis Suarez in tears – the country thought it was game over but not us
JOEL WARD has 301 Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace under his belt.
But No 35 remains arguably the most memorable — and it was a game that Palace did not even win.
It came during May 2014 in the campaign’s penultimate round of games.
Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool visited Selhurst Park with their title challenge hanging by a thread and went three up before the hour.
But in nine sensational minutes at the end, Tony Pulis’ Palace fought back for a 3-3 draw that ended the Kop’s Prem challenge and left Luis Suarez in tears.
Nearly ten years on, Ward is the last player left at Palace who took part in ‘Crystanbul’ — named as a cruel twist on Liverpool’s famous 2005 Champions League final comeback win in Istanbul.
And as the Eagles head to Anfield today aiming for a result that would derail another Liverpool title bid, Ward happily relived that famous evening.
The Palace captain, now 34, said: “That game brings back a lot of joyous memories.
“You think you are dead and buried. The whole country, probably, whoever was watching it across the different television channels, probably thought, ‘It’s game over’.
“Then you go and flick the page and rewrite history.”
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Days after the infamous Steven Gerrard slip during a huge home defeat against Chelsea, Liverpool arrived at Selhurst Park.
The odds were stacked against them hitting back to win a first top-flight title since 1990 but, if Rodgers’ Reds could close the goal difference gap on Manchester City, it would pile on the pressure heading into the final day.
Joe Allen put Liverpool ahead in the first half. Then, in the space of two second-half minutes, Palace defender Damien Delaney deflected Daniel Sturridge’s shot past Julian Speroni and Suarez added a third.
It was, as at least one pundit said at the time, just a question of how many more they could score. Or was it?
Ward added: “We had some strong characters in the dressing room at the time.
“We always knew that, given the opportunity on the break or counter-attack, we were going to cause issues and frighten teams.
“They were probably pushing for as many goals as possible to put them in a stronger position for the title race with goal difference. That left them a little bit open. We just took the opportunity.
“Sometimes you just write your own story. You earn your own luck.”
With barely ten minutes to go, that bit of luck arrived for Palace and Delaney.
Ward said: “The first goal, when Damo opened up and it took that deflection and went in the top corner, it was kind of, ‘Ooh, we’re back in this!’
“It was kind of a shell shock. The fans at Selhurst Park fed off that and the atmosphere just erupted.”
‘I DON’T REMEMBER!’
It can only take one game to become a cult hero at a football club. And up stepped Dwight Gayle.
The former non-league striker had come off the bench to replace Jason Puncheon in the 65th minute.
And two minutes after Delaney’s goal, Yannick Bolasie squared the ball and Gayle opened up his body to fire past Simon Mignolet.
The Reds were on the ropes. With two minutes to go, they were on the floor when fellow sub Glenn Murray headed the ball on and Gayle scored again.
Ward said: “Gayley, first and foremost, is a top lad. I have a lot of time for him.
“What he’s done in the game, to come from where he’s come from, is brilliant.
“His finishing was second to none, day in, day out on the training pitch. Given the opportunity in front of goal, he was hitting the target and making the keeper work.”
Everyone remembers Gayle’s goals. What many have forgotten — including Ward — is who blocked the late shot by Lucas Leiva, which would have given Liverpool a stoppage-time winner.
It was, in fact, Ward’s block but he said: “I don’t actually remember that!
“I wouldn’t have been able to tell you much about what happened in that game afterwards because it was a bit of a blur.
“Everyone at that point is mucking in to get the job done. When you come back from a deficit like that, you just make sure you get the game across the line.”
A point felt like three for a Palace side that had spent much of its first season back in the top flight near the bottom of the table.
Ward said: “It’s great whenever you get a result against a team like Liverpool.
“Especially in that manner when you come back — and with the importance of that game, there was a lot riding on it.
“It didn’t necessarily change the course of the season on its own but it did play its part.
“To do that in the early days of us being in the Premier League is a massive victory in some ways.”
It was a momentous, history-defining game
Joel Ward
Fast forward ten seasons and Palace find themselves in a similar situation.
In 2014, they lost to City by two goals at home the weekend before facing a Liverpool side reeling from that Chelsea defeat.
Eight days ago, they were beaten 4-2 at Selhurst Park by City and on Thursday the Reds lost their 33-game unbeaten home run when Italians Atalanta humbled them 3-0 in the Europa League quarter-final first leg.
But on this occasion Palace need the points — or a point at least — more than in 2014, with the threat of relegation not yet banished.
Now, as then, Ward and his Eagles will embrace the chance to prove they can mix it with the best.
He said: “Whenever you come up against teams like this in the Premier League, you have to relish the challenge.
“You go into the game knowing you’re playing one of the top teams in the world right now and you’ve got to be on your A-game.
“We have to focus on implementing our game plan. That’s what we did ten years ago.
“That game lives on in the memories of many. It was a momentous, history-defining game.”