Sports

Benteke strikes late as Palace comeback sinks Sunderland

Benteke strikes late as Palace comeback sinks Sunderland

By REUTERS

Crystal Palace's Christian Benteke celebrates scoring their third goal as Sunderland's Jan Kirchhoff looks dejected in English Premier League football match at Stadium of Light, on Saturday 24, 2016. Photo: Reuters

  • Crystal Palace beat Sunderland 3-2 at Stadium of Light
  • Palace stay in top half as Benteke scores stoppage-time winner
  • Goals galore in a rip-roaring second half after tepid first
  • Defoe gives Sunderland 2-0 lead before visitors hit back
  • Sunderland next host West Brom, Palace go to Everton
Sunderland 2 Crystal Palace 3 Striker Christian Benteke scored a stoppage-time winner as Crystal Palace came back from a two-goal deficit to beat Sunderland 3-2 in the Premier League after Jermain Defoe had given the hosts a two-goal lead on Saturday. A scrappy first half littered with fouls gave way to an absorbing second as Defoe struck two typically clinical goals at the Stadium of Light. But having fallen 2-0 behind on the hour, Palace pulled one back less than a minute later when Joe Ledley's shot from 20 metres took a heavy deflection off Patrick van Aanholt. James McArthur levelled with a thumping 76th-minute header after a pinpoint Zeki Fryers cross before Benteke, who missed several chances, put the icing on the cake for Palace when he headed home Lee Chung-Yong's floated free kick.