Crystal Palace produced a stunning fightback to sink relegation rivals Leeds United 5-1 at Elland Road to climb six points clear of the Premier League’s bottom three.
Palace were outplayed in the first half but went in level at the break after Marc Guehi cancelled out Patrick Bamford’s opener for Leeds against the run of play.
Palace struck twice in three minutes early in the second period through Jordan Ayew and Eberechi Eze and Leeds capitulated, with Odsonne Edouard and Ayew’s second completing a remarkable turnaround.
The Londoners, in veteran boss Roy Hodgson’s second game in charge since his return to the club, struck five league goals on the road for the first time since December 2020.
It was an afternoon to forget for Leeds, who remain 16th, two points above the drop zone, and few saw a heavy defeat coming after they had made their habitual barnstorming start.
Luis Sinisterra flashed a low angled shot inches wide and Sam Johnstone was forced into early action in his first league start for the visitors.
The Palace goalkeeper made a brilliant save to keep out Brenden Aaronson’s flicked effort and fisted away another shot from Sinisterra.
Leeds took a deserved 21st-minute lead when Bamford deftly headed home his 50th goal for the club in all competitions from Aaronson’s corner.
The home side were given a let-off soon after when the unmarked Jeffrey Schlupp headed Eze’s corner against a post and Ayew’s follow-up effort was blocked.
Johnstone denied Leeds a second with a flying save to keep out Jack Harrison’s free-kick before Palace threatened again when Ayew headed another corner narrowly wide.
But Johnstone was by far the busier goalkeeper. The free summer signing from West Brom next kept out Pascal Struijk’s goalbound header before Palace struck an unlikely equaliser.
Eze’s free-kick deflected off Schlupp and Guehi reacted quickest, with his close-range finish ruled onside after a VAR check.
A three-goal first-half lead would not have flattered Leeds, but Palace then turned the game on its head, stunning the home crowd with two goals in three minutes early in the second period.
Ayew outjumped Ayling to head home Michael Olise’s right-wing cross to make it 2-1 in the 53rd minute.
That became 3-1 in the 55th after poor Leeds defending as Olise slipped in Eze, whose run into the box went unopposed, and he toe-poked the ball home.
Leeds poured forward in a bid to salvage the game, but were caught out again on the counter-attack in the 69th minute as Edouard raced on to Olise’s pass and rifled a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.
Ayew made it 5-1 to Palace with his second goal in the 77th minute, ramming home from eight yards, after Will Hughes’ blocked effort fell into his path, to make it back-to-back wins in Hodgson’s second spell in charge.
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
MATCH INFO
Kolkata Knight Riders 245/6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 214/8 (20 ovs)
Kolkata won by 31 runs
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Roll of honour
Who has won what so far in the West Asia Premiership season?
Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Cup - Winners: Bahrain; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Trophy - Winners: Dubai Hurricanes; Runners up: DSC Eagles
Final West Asia Premiership standings - 1. Jebel Ali Dragons; 2. Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 3. Bahrain; 4. Dubai Exiles; 5. Dubai Hurricanes; 6. DSC Eagles; 7. Abu Dhabi Saracens
Fixture (UAE Premiership final) - Friday, April 13, Al Ain – Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:
- Dubai Sports City Eagles v Dubai Exiles
- Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Saracens
- Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
