November 25 2017

Mamadou Sakho

Crystal Palace snatched a dramatic stoppage-time winner to beat Stoke City 2-1.

Eagles defender Mamadou Sakho popped up in the 92nd minute to net his first goal for his side as they earned a priceless three points.

Palace are still holding up the Premier League table but this huge victory at Selhurst Park pushes them to within three points of safety.

Manager Roy Hodgson made a couple of changes, dropping Julian Speroni and Scott Dann for Wayne Hennessey and James Tomkins, with fit-again Christian Benteke starting on the bench.

The Londoners had the first chance of the game as Ruben Loftus-Cheek's goal-bound shot was blocked by Stoke's Erik Pieters.

Then a Stoke counter-attack ended with Xherdan Shaqiri drawing a fine stop by Hennessey with his leg when the playmaker looked set to score.

Luka Milivojevic and Shaqiri had attempts on goal each, while Stoke stopper Lee Grant came out well to block James McArthur's attempt from close range as a tight half ended.

Benteke came on for McArthur at the interval and the Belgian striker was quickly into the action, firing into the side netting.

Stoke got their noses in front on 53 minutes with an amazing solo goal from Shaqiri, who collected the ball just inside the Palace half, and ghosted his way past multiple defenders before curling home.

The lead lasted less than three minutes as Palace grabbed an equaliser with Loftus-Cheek converting Andros Townsend's left-wing cross at the far post for his maiden Eagles goal.

Stoke substitute Jese went close to scoring, while Ryan Shawcross fluffed a golden chance from two yards when Shaqiri lofted a pin-point cross to the back post.

Palace launched a last-ditch attempt to win the game with a succession of corners and got their reward in the second minute of injury time.

Wilfried Zaha picked up the ball from one of the flag kicks and crossed for Yohan Cabaye, his shot struck the post, and Sakho was on hand to put the rebound into an empty net to send the home fans delirious.

Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Tomkins, Sakho, Schlupp, Loftus-Cheek, Cabaye, Milivojevic, McArthur (Benteke 46), Townsend, Zaha.

Not used: Speroni, Van Aanholt, Fosu-Mensah, Dann, Puncheon, Sako.

Stoke: Grant, Wimmer, Shawcross, Zouma, Diouf (Jese 74), Allen, Fletcher, Pieters, Shaqiri, Sobhi (Crouch 68), Choupo-Moting.

Not used: Haugaard, Edwards, Martins Indi, Adam, Afellay.

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