Charlton’s U23s earned a point at home to local rivals, but it was a frustrating afternoon, as Palace’s development side came from 2-0 down at half-time to clinch a vital draw.
Doughty opened the scoring for the Addicks in the 12th minute, and Yamfam added the second in the 25th minute. Doughty slotted the ball past Palace keeper Kleton Perntreou before Lumeka blasted a good opportunity for an instant equaliser over the crossbar.
The PDL2S leaders looked set to claim another win to seal a play-off place by taking a healthy lead at the break, but Chung-Yong Lee won a penalty for the Eagles which proved vital before assisting Levi Lumeka’s late leveller to give the away team an important point.
The Addicks had doubled their lead on the half-hour mark when a brilliant strike from distance by Yamfam whistled past the Eagles keeper and found the top corner of the net.
However, Palace’s quality soon became evident when their playmaker Chung-yong Lee forced the Addicks’ stopper Dimitar Mitov into a fine reaction stop before the South Korean earned a penalty on the 67th minute.
Ex-Tottenham starlet Nya Kirby took the responsibility from 12 yards and duly scored his first competitive goal to lift his team’s spirits.
Chung-yong Lee produced a moment of magic with just 10 minutes to go when he conjured up an equaliser for Richard Shaw’s outfit. Lee picked the ball up on the right flank, and whipped a first-time cross into the Addicks’ penalty area and Lumeka reacted well to level things up for visiting team. His fifth under-23s goal of the season completed the Eagles’ comeback.
Jason Euell’s side are still six points clear of Millwall U23s who are second with a game in hand at the summit of the PDL2S.
