Crystal Palace 1 Newcastle 1: Munoz late goal sees points shared as Toon fail to muster a shot on target and lose Isak
DANIEL MUNOZ struck in stoppage-time to complete a classic villain-to-hero story at Selhurst Park.
Munoz posted his entry for miss of the season after an awful waste from just six yard in the first half — and it got worse for Palace when Marc Guehi put past his owner keeper eight minutes after the break.
But the Colombian ace made amends for his earlier miss by planting a superb header past Nick Pope.
It means Toon boss Eddie Howe was unable to mark turning 47 by taking all three points.
He thought he had eight minutes after the break when Harvey Barnes drew a foul from Jefferson Lerma 25 yards out on the right, Lewis Hall’s short free-kick was worked right to Sandro Tonali who found Gordon sneaking around the back to the byline.
His pass into the six-yard box was a peach and Guehi, trying to clear, ended up putting the ball past his own keeper for an unfortunate own goal.
The Toon boss was still smarting from the 2-0 loss at home to West Ham at St James’ Park on Monday night.
And he was left feeling gutted again as Munoz struck at the death.
Sandro Tonali returned to the Newcastle team, replacing Sean Longstaff, while Dan Burn was in for Lloyd Kelly after a one-game ban.
Meanwhile Palace chief Oliver Glasner was hoping to end a three-game win-less streak.
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He also made two switches to the team — with Eberechi Eze back after a month out with a hamstring injury and Lerma also coming in with Justin Devenny and Cheick Doucoure on the bench.
It was a quiet start with Palace moving the ball around without any pressing.
Joe Willock had to receive treatment after picking up a muscular injury but got back on his feet to resume.
However it took a brilliant last-ditch clearance from Fabian Schar to deny Newcastle what looked like a certain leveller with Eze set to pounce from close range after a lovely pass from Ismaila Sarr.
Newcastle were dealt a blow when Alexander Isak came off worse in a 50-50 with Tyrick Mitchell and ended up hobbling off with a lot of discomfort in the Swiss star’s hip.
Harvey Barnes was flung on as his replacement.
And Trevoh Chalobah tried his luck from 30 yards – with the fizzing effort just clearing the bar.
Then Toon keeper Nick Pope stuck a leg out to keep out Sarr’s effort from point-blank range after a wonderful centre from Daniel Mumoz — although the assistant flagged offside.
Munoz was guilty of winning what surely will be a nomination for miss of the season.
As Palace countered following a Newcastle corner, Sarr played the perfect pass towards the back post for Munoz to shoot into an empty net from six yards. But incredibly he put his effort wide!
Newcastle finally forced Dean Henderson to make a save in the 40th minute when Barnes exchanged passes with Bruno Guimaraes before seeing his angled effort kept out by the Palace keeper.
Newcastle moved in front against the run of play seven minutes after the break thanks to a training-ground creativity and a piece of luck.
After Barnes drew a foul from Lerma 25 yards from goal on the right, Lewis Hall’s short free-kick was worked right to Tonali who found Gordon sneaking around the back to the byline.
His pass into the six-yard box deflected off Guehi for an unfortunate own goal.
But Palace were denied from levelling.
Sarr got one-on-one with Pope but the Toon keeper saved and Dan Burns’ shot on the follow up from an acute angle was kept out by Munoz.
Lerma then saw an effort from the edge of the box deflected wide.
Guehi, desperate to make amends for his error, could not quite keep his header down after meeting a cross.
Pope then managed to push a Sarr shot wide and from the resulting corner Guehi nodded the ball into the path of Jean-Philippe Mateta, whose shot on the turn flashed over.
But their equaliser came in dramatic fashion as Munoz fired in a head in the fourth minute of stoppage time.