Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle: Munoz's last-gasp header snatches point for Eagles

Daniel Munoz netted his first goal for Crystal Palace in the dying moments of stoppage time, enabling the Eagles to come from behind and secure a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United at Selhurst Park, thereby escaping the Premier League relegation zone.

Newcastle faced injury challenges early in the match, prompting Eddie Howe to substitute top scorer Alexander Isak with Harvey Barnes midway through the first half.

The frequent interruptions hindered the rhythm of play during the opening period, with neither team managing a shot on goal until the 30-minute mark, when Trevoh Chalobah's ambitious attempt sailed well over Nick Pope's crossbar.

As the first half progressed, Palace began to look more threatening, nearly taking the lead for the fourth time in five matches when Ismaïla Sarr's cross was narrowly missed by Munoz from close range.

Maxence Lacroix also came close, attempting to connect with Eberechi Eze’s free-kick, but his misdirected header went wide, leaving Palace without a goal in six of their last seven home matches this season.

The match was poised for a shift after a lackluster first half that saw no shots on target from either side. However, the visitors capitalized on the break, as Howe's halftime adjustments led to an early second-half goal. Anthony Gordon delivered a low cross into the Palace area, which Marc Guéhi inadvertently redirected into his own net.

Historically, a Premier League opener has favored the Magpies, who had won all three previous matches in which they scored first this season. They managed to withstand Palace's initial attempts to respond, with Dan Burn making a crucial block on Munoz's shot aimed at goal.

Just when it seemed that Howe's side would maintain their advantage, a momentary lapse in concentration allowed Munoz to redeem himself for his earlier miss, equalizing in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

The downward header ultimately eluded Pope, resulting in a goal that marked his inaugural score in the Premier League and secured a potentially invaluable point for his team, which has now suffered only one defeat in their last six matches.

Conversely, Newcastle missed the opportunity to ascend into the top seven, as they were unable to secure a victory away from home for the fourth time in five attempts.

SportsLigue