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Munoz makes amends for misses to secure late draw for Palace.
The Colombian scores a dramatic late goal after missing early chances against Newcastle
Daniel Munoz made amends for his earlier missed chances as Crystal Palace scored a stoppage-time equaliser against Newcastle United.
The Colombian was set up by Marc Guehi late on, the England defender compensating for his unfortunate own goal to create the Eagles’ dramatical equaliser.
Munoz had missed two glorious chances earlier in the match but made no mistake in the 94th minute as he nodded past Nick Pope at the far post.
It looked like Newcastle – humbled at home by West Ham United on Monday – would return to winning ways after Guehi bundled Anthony Gordon’s low cross into his own net 53 minutes in.
Guehi played his part in an equaliser Palace deserved on the balance of play, as his floated cross was turned home by Munoz to spark jubilant celebrations at Selhurst Park.
Palace move out of the relegation zone on goal difference, while Newcastle stay in 10th, as they missed the chance to move within a point of the top four.
How the match unfolded
After a disjointed start owing to a spurt of Newcastle injuries, Palace got on top, and Pope made a sharp stop with his legs to keep out Ismaila Sarr, though the offside flag would have denied him anyway.
A blistering counter-attack almost led to the opener in the 35th minute as Sarr sent a cross to the far post, but Munoz poked wide from close range.
That profligacy came back to haunt Palace after the break as a cleverly worked Newcastle free-kick carved them open, and Guehi inadvertently turned Gordon’s cutback into his own net.
Sarr was thwarted by Pope again just after the hour-mark, with the goalkeeper smothering his chip before Dan Burn blocked Munoz’s follow-up at the near post, while Jean-Philippe Mateta volleyed high over the bar from close range.
But Palace kept pushing until the end, and their was delight for their fans when Munoz peeled off at the back post to convert from Guehi’s delivery.
Palace show their mettle
Oliver Glasner believes Palace’s performances have been getting better in recent weeks, but he could not deny that they needed a win at the start of a busy schedule.
That victory did not arrive, but clutching a draw from the jaws of defeat will nevertheless be a huge boost.
The Eagles have struggled to score at home this season, something they would have felt confident in rectifying with Eberechi Eze back from a hamstring injury.
He carved out a good opening early on, only to have the ball stolen by Fabian Schar before he get his shot away, while he also linked up well with Sarr, who proved troublesome down Palace’s right.
Despite Sarr’s pressure, he could not find a way past Newcastle’s goalkeeper, and even as Justin Devenny, who scored his first Premier League goal against Aston Villa last week was introduced along with Eddie Nketiah, it looked like Palace would draw another blank – until Munoz’s late intervention, that is.
While Palace will feel they deserved all three points, they now travel to Ipswich Town with a spring in their step as they search for a first away win of the season.
Pressure back on Newcastle
After their disappointing loss to West Ham on Monday, and a trip to struggling Palace presented what looked like a great chance to bounce back.
However, the Magpies failed to get going at Selhurst Park and were not helped when Alexander Isak had to make way early on due to what looked like a recurrence of a hip injury.
Harvey Barnes replaced the forward and provided a threat from the right wing with fizzing low crosses, but with nobody to meet them in the box, the Palace defence comfortably dealt with the danger.
Eddie Howe’s half-time team talk lit a fire under his players, though, as their bright start to the second half was rewarded with a goal. Gordon claimed the credit despite Guehi, a target of Newcastle in the transfer window, knocking it over the line.
It was hardly a convincing performance though. They scored without even having an attempt on target, and had just one shot in total throughout. Next up are Liverpool, and the performance will have to be much better if Newcastle are to do damage against the Reds.
Club reports
Crystal Palace report | Newcastle United report
Oliver Glasner: “The equaliser was so deserved. We’re a little bit disappointed because we would have deserved the win today. Keeping Newcastle on one shot, it was an unbelievable performance.
“We have to blame ourselves that we didn’t take those chances. It’s frustrating, but on the other side we know we’ll come through it together. The way we’re playing is improving game-by-game, and then the results will come.”
Eddie Howe: “It was a strange game. We didn’t have any goalmouth action, but I felt we were good in the game. I felt we nullified them pretty well. In the main, I think we controlled it pretty well.
“It’s really gutting to concede the goal at the end. I felt like we’d weathered the storm and would see the game out. We defended crosses well, but one moment cost us today. In [our last] two games, we’ve let a lot of points slip.”
Next Premier League fixtures
Key facts
Crystal Palace have now lost just one of their last 10 Premier League home matches against Newcastle United
There wasn’t a single shot on target during the first half of this match, the first time that has happened in the Premier League this season, having last occurred between Everton and Brentford in April.
Newcastle didn’t have a single shot on target in this match, becoming the first team to score despite failing to hit the target in a Premier League match since Watford against Southampton in June 2020.
Newcastle are only the eighth side on record (from 2003-04) to avoid defeat in a Premier League game in which they attempted a maximum of one shot, and the first since Leicester against the Magpies in May 2023.
(epl)