Kamada rescues Crystal Palace against Hoffenheim after Wharton red card

Crystal Palace drew 1-1 with Hoffenheim at Selhurst Park on Thursday night, 5 November 2026, in the Europa League. Daichi Kamada scored an equaliser in stoppage time, in the 91st minute, to save a point for the home side.

Hoffenheim took the lead early, in the 7th minute. Alexander Prass scored with a left-footed effort after a pass from Tim Lemperle. The shot slipped under Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson and went over the line. Because the goal came so early, Palace spent most of the night chasing the game.

It got harder in the 77th minute. Midfielder Adam Wharton was shown a second yellow card, and so a red, for a second bookable offence after contact with Hoffenheim's Wouter Burger. Palace had to play the last stretch with ten men.

Even with a player less, Palace kept pushing. Kamada came up with the key moment 14 minutes after the red card, in the 91st minute, to level the score. The goal was a big relief for the club and for manager Pierre Sage, who had been under pressure before the game.

The red card also has a cost. Under UEFA rules, a red card normally brings an automatic ban, so Wharton is expected to miss Palace's next European fixture. The exact length of the suspension has not been confirmed in the match reports, so Palace fans should wait for UEFA's official notice.

For Palace, the point is a useful one, as it came from behind and with a man down. Still, they will need better results in the remaining league-phase games, and they will have to do it without one of their most important midfielders when the ban begins.

Hoffenheim, on the other hand, will feel they threw away a win in the last minute of a game they had controlled for long periods.