Late goal stuns Eagles

March 15 2003

Andy Johnson

A last-gasp Reading goal denied Crystal Palace a point as they went down 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium.

Andy Johnson's equalising goal in the 76th minute looked to have booked Palace a point against Alan Pardew's men but James Harper's 90th minute winner left Palace empty-handed.

Tony Popovic struck a volley wide in the opening four minutes from the edge of the box.

Cedric Berthelin was called into action on 10 minutes, saving a Nicky Forster effort before Nathan Tyson shot wide.

In the 20th minute, Berthelin had to go off with a groin injury and be replaced by renegade keeper Alex Kolinko.

A few minutes later, he stopped an Andy Hughes' strike. Opposite number, Marcus Hahnemann saved a Shaun Derry effort on the half hour.

The opening goal of the game came from Reading in the 65th minute. Darren Powell brought down Andy Hughes on the edge of the box and Tyson's free-kick was back-heeled to Steve Brown who fired through the wall and score.

Substitute Dougie Freedman set up Johnson to score the equaliser from 15 yards 11 minutes later.

Noel Whelan wasted a chance to score a Palace winner in the last minute and seconds later, Harper made sure of the points as he netted Luke Chadwick's cross from 12 yards.

Palace: Berthelin, Butterfield, Borrowdale, Powell, Popovic, Mullins, Derry, Thomson, Routledge, Whelan, Johnson.

Subs: Kolinko, Freedman, Black, Gray, Symons.

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