You are here: Home > News > Late AJ goal gives Palace the edge
December 11 2023 2.39am

Late AJ goal gives Palace the edge

May 14 2004

Andy Johnson

Andy Johnson

Palace have a slender lead in the play-off semi-final first leg after beating Sunderland 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at Selhurst Park.

After a goal-less, tense first half, the game sparked into life in the second period. Sunderland's Kevin Kyle had fired wide in the sixth minute, while Palace had their fair share of chances.

Michael Hughes' powerful cross was deflected out for a corner and Neil Shipperley went close. The visitors' John Oster and Gray both blazed over the bar as both sides went in at the break 0-0.

Sunderland took the lead with a penalty in the 51st minute when Tony Popovic tripped Carl Robinson in the area and Marcus Stewart put away the spot-kick.

Seconds later, Palace were on level terms as Shipperley got on the end of Danny Granville's cross and headed over Mart Poom into the back of the net.

Palace went 2-1 up on 64 minutes. Hughes' passed a quick free-kick to Butterfield and the fullback's shot took a wicked deflection off Phil Babb and past the hapless Poom.

Kyle pegged it back to 2-2 in the 85th minute, getting on the end of a free-kick into the box and netting from close-range.

Then with three minutes remaining, Johnson ran at Gary Breen and struck a low shot past Poom to give the Eagles a narrow lead as they go into the second leg at Sunderland on Monday.

Crystal Palace: Vaesen, Granville, Leigertwood, Popovic, Butterfield, Gray, Riihilahti, Hughes (Derry 83), Routledge, Johnson, Shipperley (Powell 89).

Subs not used: Freedman, Black, Berthelin.

Today's football results and scorers

Division One table

Palace 2003/4 team stats

Rate the players' performance

Send us your match report

Call the HOL on 07092 362 125 and tell us what you thought of the match! More information about the service

See how you got on in the Prediction League

Did you take any photos of the game? Send them to: webmaster@holmesdale.net

Latest Headlines

Palace Talk Forum Latest

Team for Liverpool - Match Thread
at 11.11pm by Willo

Holloway reflects on time at Palace
at 10.35pm by Vaibow

Man City predictions
at 10.06pm by EddieMac

Man City predictions
at 9.34pm by Elwissthebest

Team for Liverpool - Match Thread
at 9.16pm by Croydon-Trucker

Dire team today
at 8.22pm by Glazier#1

You are here: Home > News > Late AJ goal gives Palace the edge