Sunderland 2 Crystal Palace 3: Christian Benteke scores last minute winner to complete dramatic comeback

CHRISTIAN BENTEKE scored a dramatic last minute winner to complete a shock comeback at the Stadium of Light.

Jermain Defoe scored his third and fourth goals of the season to give David Moyes' side a 2-0 lead with just 30 minutes left on the clock.

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But straight from kick-off Palace lumped the ball up field and it fell to Joe Ledley whose shot took a cruel deflection off Patrick van Aanholt before trickling into the back of the net.

Conor Wickham was introduced but it was James McArthur who grabbed an equaliser when he headed in following a wonderful cross from Zeki Fryers.

And the comeback was complete when Benteke headed home in the fourth minute of added time.

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FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

• NEW centre-half Papy Djilobodji continues to look unconvincing. Club captain John O’Shea should be back in the side.
• STEVEN Pienaar went off crocked after just 15 minutes. But that’s what happens when you sign unwanted players like him who are aged 34.
• WILFRIED ZAHA had to sit out with a hamstring injury and Palace really missed him. Without the winger, who was outstanding when the Eagles last visited the North East and won at Middlesbrough, there was less service for Christian Benteke.
• THE visitors are also a better side with Scott Dann. The centre-half also had a hamstring strain and Alan Pardew’s men subsequently looked shaky at the back.
• IT did not take long for Sunderland fans to renew their loathing of ex-Newcastle player Yohan Cabaye. The Palace midfielder made a meal of a Didier Ndong challenge and was roundly booed from then on

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• THE Black Cats really would be stuck if Jermain Defoe got injured. Victor Anichebe, who made his debut off the bench today, is the club’s only back-up striker.
• IT has been a week to forget for Patrick van Aanholt. After his heart scare then shisha pipe controversy, the Dutch defender was at fault for both Palace’s goals.
• PARDEW will be smug about his 75th-minute substitution. He brought Zeki Fryers on for Martin Kelly and it was his brilliant cross which set up James McArthur’s equaliser a minute later.
• CHRISTIAN Benteke loves scoring against Sunderland. He now has seven goals in eight Premier League games against them - more than against any other club.
• OCTOBER can’t come quickly enough for David Moyes. Sunderland still have not won in August or September since 2012.

BIG PICTURE

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DREAM TEAM RATINGS

SUNDERLAND: Pickford 6, Manquillo 6, Kone 6, Djilobodji 7, van Aanholt 6, Cattermole 6 (McNair 86, 6), Kirchhoff 6, Ndong 6, Pienaar 6 (Watmore 15, 6), Januzaj 6 (Anichebe 86, 5), Defoe 7

Subs not used: Mika, O'Shea, Khazri, Denayer

Goals: Defoe (39, 60)

CRYSTAL PALACE: Mandanda 5, Ward 6, Tomkins 7, Delaney 7, Kelly 6 (Fryers 74, 7) , McArthur 8, Ledley 6, Puncheon 7 (Lee Chung-Yong 93, 6), Cabaye 6 (Wickham 73, 6), Townsend 6, Benteke 8

Subs not used: Hennessey, Mutch, Sako, Wynter

Goals: Ledley (61), McArthur (76), Benteke (94)

STAR MAN: Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace)

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WHAT THEY SAID
Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew: "Benteke is always a threat of course, and he had a couple of chances today. With his goal it was a great delivery and a clinical finish.
"We are confident at the moment and we produced today. Our fans were terrific and this has been a great day for us, because we think we've got a great side and we showed it today."
Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe: "I'm devastated. When you are 2-0 up at home you have to see the game out and win it, simple as that. You can imagine how it is in the dressing room.
"Benteke's goal at the end is something we have worked on in training - we're disappointed."