Burnley 2-2 Charlton: Mesik’s 96th-minute equaliser denies Clarets

Ivan Mesik struck with virtually the last kick of the game to deny Burnley their first home league victory in 360 days as Charlton Athletic fought back for a dramatic 2-2 draw at Turf Moor.

The Clarets looked set to end that long wait when Largie Ramazani restored their lead just before the hour, but the Slovakian substitute kept his composure in the sixth minute of added time to fire home from Harvey Knibbs’ pass and spark wild celebrations among the travelling Addicks and their manager Nathan Jones.

Burnley had taken a deserved lead in the 36th minute. Josh Laurent found Jacob Bruun Larsen on the left and the Dane cut inside before driving a right-footed shot that squeezed through the Charlton defence and between the legs of goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo for his second goal in successive matches.

The opener stirred the visitors. Kyle Walker cleared Billy Koumetio’s effort off the line and Gregoire Coudert was forced into saves from Lloyd Jones’ header and a Karlan Grant attempt. Charlton’s pressure finally told five minutes after the restart when Coudert failed to deal with a corner into the six-yard box and Kayne Ramsay, making his first start of the season after injury, smashed the loose ball into the roof of the net from close range.

Parity lasted only six minutes. Igor Julio fed Ramazani on the right and the on-loan Leeds winger, given too much space by the Charlton defence, produced a moment of quality to finish right-footed into the far corner and put the hosts back in front.

Burnley continued to create chances, with Reo Hatate firing wide and Ramazani’s acrobatic volley flying over, while Walker headed clear another dangerous cross from Tyreece Campbell. Nicky Hayen’s side appeared to be closing in on the three points that would have lifted them further clear of the bottom three, even after Anel Ahmedhodzic was forced off late following a collision with his own goalkeeper.

Yet Charlton refused to accept defeat. Jones introduced Mesik, Knibbs, Micah Mbick and Charlie Kelman around the 75-minute mark and the changes paid off in extraordinary fashion. With just 14 seconds of the allotted stoppage time remaining, Knibbs slipped the ball into the left side of the penalty area and Mesik drilled a low finish across Coudert into the bottom corner for his first goal in Charlton colours.

It was a gut-wrenching moment for Burnley, who have now thrown away a lead late on in three consecutive home games, and left Hayen openly frustrated at the manner of the equaliser. For Charlton it was a hard-earned and thoroughly deserved point on the road, secured by character and a refusal to stop pushing until the final whistle.