Newcastle United dropped points from a winning position for the first time in the 2024-25 Premier League season as Crystal Palace struck late to salvage a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park.
It was a tale of two goals from Eagles defenders in the capital, one into his own net from Marc Guehi and one past Nick Pope from Daniel Munoz, who had missed a sitter in the first half before atoning for his error and then some with a last-gasp header.
Some crisp, confident passing from Newcastle early doors did not translate into exemplary attacking play, and the big talking points of the first half were huge negatives for both teams.
After Alexander Isak was pulled off due to an apparent hip injury with a quarter of the game gone, Munoz had a golden chance to put the hosts ahead with a tap-in, only to put in his nomination for miss of the season with an inexplicable blunder.
However, Munoz's individual blushes were spared when fellow Eagles defender Guehi opened the scoring with an own goal eight minutes into the second period, although Newcastle's ingenious free-kick routine was as much to thank for their deadlock breaker.
As only Newcastle and Liverpool had not dropped a single point when leading in the 2024-25 Premier League season before the weekend, the Magpies faithful had every right to feel optimistic about their sides chances of clinging on, especially as Eberechi Eze was taken off early in the second half after his recent injury recovery.
Newcastle were mere moments from winning an 11th Premier League game in a row in which they had taken the lead, but with 94 minutes gone, first-half villain Munoz wrote his hero arc with a terrific header to propel the Eagles out of the relegation zone and into 17th spot.
There is no change to Newcastle's 10th-placed ranking, although Munoz's stoppage-time equaliser means that the visitors have missed the chance to rise into the top seven of the standings.
CRYSTAL PALACE VS. NEWCASTLE HIGHLIGHTS
Marc Guehi own goal vs. Crystal Palace (53rd min, Crystal Palace 0-1 Newcastle)
© Imago
No Isak? No problem for Newcastle, who have Selhurst Park lift-off thanks to an inadvertent contribution from one of their long-term transfer targets.
A well-worked free kick routine ends with Anthony Gordon delivering a low cutback from the byline, and Guehi is in the wrong place at the wrong time to turn the ball into his own net.
Daniel Munoz goal vs. Newcastle (90+4 min, Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle)
Now that is how to make amends for missing a sitter in the first half!
With virtually the last attack of the game, Guehi delivers a floated ball to the back stick, where Munoz sends a bullet header into the ground and past Pope at his near post to trigger Selhurst Park pandemonium.
MAN OF THE MATCH - DANIEL MUNOZ
🇨🇴😤#CPFC // #CRYNEW pic.twitter.com/XbDl9GoeyL
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) November 30, 2024
Munoz may have wanted the Selhurst turf to swallow him up after such a horrendous early miss, but the Colombian right-back timed his run and leap perfectly to come up with the pivotal injury-time intervention.
Not only that, the 28-year-old contested 11 ground duels and won an extraordinary 10 of them, making nine tackles and also producing three clearances in a display that no doubt warranted at least the one point.
CRYSTAL PALACE VS. NEWCASTLE MATCH STATS
Possession: Crystal Palace 49%-51% Newcastle
Shots: Crystal Palace 16-1 Newcastle
Shots on target: Crystal Palace 4-0 Newcastle
Corners: Crystal Palace 8-9 Newcastle
Fouls: Crystal Palace 12-11 Newcastle
BEST STATS
Daniel Munoz won more duels (6) and made more tackles (5) than any other player in the first half vs. Newcastle. 💪#CRYNEW pic.twitter.com/TysIs2pUMr
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) November 30, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
Oliver Glasner's men have just three days to dissect Saturday's display, as the Eagles are back in action away to newly-promoted Ipswich Town on Tuesday evening.
As for Newcastle, the Magpies have an extra 24 hours to recuperate before a daunting clash with league leaders Liverpool at St James' Park on December 4.
Ben Knapton
