DANIEL MUNOZ savoured a moment of history for Crystal Palace as they sunk Fulham – and put a halt on their opponents’ European dreams.
The energetic Colombian, a product of the hard streets of Medellin, has adapted excellently to life in England since moving over last summer to South London.
PADaniel Munoz sealed another win on the road for Palace[/caption]
GettyThe Colombian doubled the Eagles’ lead at Craven Cottage[/caption]
GettyJoachim Andersen netted an unfortunate own goal to give Palace a first half lead[/caption]
And the highlight of his £8million move from Belgian side Genk was a tremendous turn-and-finish that bamboozled poor Fulham defender Calvin Bassey in a feisty London derby.
The Eagles – who benefited in the first half from an own goal scored by ex-player Joachim Andersen – celebrated a FOURTH successive top-flight away victory.
That had never happened before in 119 years and ironically all of the results have been by 2-0 scorelines.
It also reminded Fulham – who had been hoping to use their passports next season for possible European competition – that they need to discover some form of consistency if they wish to stay in the top half.
On an unseasonably mild February afternoon in West London, referee Robert Jones chose to take a lenient approach to any full-blooded tackles or niggly challenges.
This greatly annoyed Fulham fans, particularly when Chris Richards swiped down home favourite Emile Smith Rowe and no foul was called, allowing Palace to instigate an attack.
And there was the time when Will Hughes collided with Bassey but play was permitted to continue.
At times, Fulham boss Marco Silva could be seen shaking his head in disbelief that the cards had remained in the ref’s pocket.
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Anger towards the official intensified when Palace took the lead on 37 minutes from a Hughes corner, which was bundled in off the side of Andersen’s head, following pressure from Maxence Lacroix in front.
It might have been scored in messy fashion but the away fans did not care one jot.
Calls from a Fulham perspective that there had been a push as the corner came over were ignored.
And the fact the Danish defender wore Palace colours up until last August’s £30million switch was not lost on anybody.
“You’re not fit to referee” was one of the few chants that could be repeated before the watershed.
Loud boos echoed around this old arena by the river and Jones was not exactly given a warm reception as he walked off at half-time.
It had been a first half of few chances, one that was really devoid of any top-class quality, but ever-present goalkeeper Bernd Leno did pull off two decent saves from Eberechi Eze.
GettyMunoz’s goal gave Palace a fifth-consecutive away win in all competitions[/caption]
GettyJean-Philippe Mateta had a goal disallowed for offside[/caption]
Ten minutes into the second half, Palace talisman Jean-Philippe Mateta thought he had scored his 12th league goal this term when he thumped home, latching onto a clever backheel by Eze.
But VAR technicians had other ideas and though it was a fractional call, the Frenchman’s trademark booting of the corner flag was all in vain.
In the build-up, Smith Rowe had collapsed to the floor in the centre circle due to a calf problem – because it was not a head injury, the visitors did not have to stop play.
And soon the former Arsenal midfielder was hobbling off to the treatment room.
ReutersIt was Munoz’s second goal of the season since arriving from Genk[/caption]
Lacroix was a clear threat for Palace at set-pieces and his header on 61 minutes required a magnificent reflex save from Leno, who has played every Premier League minute this season.
Five minutes later and Palace had the second goal that they deserved, the architect being the exceptional Mateta who outrageously glided past several Fulham players on a quick, long-busting counter-attack.
Munoz completely fooled with Bassey with his quick feet and then rifled home his shot from a tight angle – his fourth goal for the club.
It was a result that edges Palace further away from the drop zone and is the first time they have won consecutive top-flight away London derbies in the same season since beating Wimbledon and Tottenham in 1997-98.
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