Soccer

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.Daniel Munoz sealed another win on the road for PalaceCredit: PAThe Colombian doubled the Eagles’ lead at Craven CottageCredit: GettyJoachim Andersen netted an unfortunate own goal to give Palace a first half leadCredit: GettyAnd 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.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLOn 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.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAnger 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.Fulham boss Marco Silva regrets ‘cruel’ loss to Man Utd 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.Munoz’s goal gave Palace a fifth-consecutive away win in all competitionsCredit: GettyJean-Philippe Mateta had a goal disallowed for offsideCredit: GettyTen 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.It was Munoz’s second goal of the season since arriving from GenkCredit: ReutersLacroix 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.READ MORE SUN STORIESMunoz 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. More

A THIRD-DIVISION game in Germany has been suspended after wild scenes both on and off the field.Rostock’s 3. Liga showdown with Dynamo Dresden was halted for almost half an hour as riot police struggled to gain control.Police and fans clashed during a German third-division match on SaturdayCredit: GettyFans of both Rostock and Dresden were seen sending fireworks into each other’s sectionsCredit: GettyFans also clashed with police during the bad-tempered gameCredit: GettyPlay was suspended for almost half an hour as riot police battled to regain controlCredit: GettyNils Froling gave Rostock an early lead in the contest, with Dresden arriving chasing an automatic promotion spot.But it was events off the field which derailed the bad-tempered clash at the Ostseestadion.During halftime, Dresden fans unveiled a banner which led to police heading into the visiting supporters, per Welt. Various videos circulating on social media showed fireworks being fired at riot police from the away section. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLPolice stood firm as various pyrotechnics were sent their way. Fans from both teams then began sending pyrotechnics towards each other on the terraces.Dynamo captain Stefan Kutschke attempted to calm proceedings, only for a brawl to break out on the field. Coaches and players from both sides were involved in the fracas, with the game in total suspended for 28 minutes.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSPleas were made over the tannoy for fans to stop firing fireworks into their respective sections. And the game was even threatened with abandonment if the crowd continued. Dynamo Dresden fans put on crazy firework display outside team hotel ahead of first match back after quarantineTempers eventually cooled enough to resume the game, with Rostock holding on for a 1-0 victory.The result leaves Dresden second in the table, three points behind leaders Cottbus.Rostock meanwhile are now 7th and within just four points of the playoff spot. Police in the city were stretched on Saturday due to huge demonstrations taking place in Rostock city centre.Elections are taking place in Germany on Sunday, with an AfD rally and a counter-demonstration being held ahead of the polls. More

DJED SPENCE’S case for a possible England call-up is growing stronger by the week.The versatile defender, 24, has been Spurs’ form player over their difficult, injury-ravaged last few months, handling Mo Salah brilliantly in the Carabao Cup in January.Brennan Johnson was hero for Spurs – scoring twice to down Ipswich TownCredit: ReutersJohnson opened the scoring for the away sideCredit: RexIt has led to talk of possible inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad.And if the German was watching this performance, which saw Spence net his first Premier League goal to kill off Ipswich’s resistance, he may have found it quite persuasive.Ange Postecoglou, who talked up Spence’s credentials on Friday, saw his side race into a 2-0 lead thanks to a Brennan Johnson double.But given his team’s habit of chucking away leads, the fear was it would happen when Omari Hutchinson curled home before the break.Read more football newsYet in the end England hopeful Spence’s deflected effort ensured a third straight league victory for Spurs, before Dejan Kulusevski’s stunner added some gloss to the scoreline.Meanwhile Kieran McKenna’s Town are now five points adrift in the relegation zone after yet another home humbling.It is now four straight home defeats for the Tractor Boys with 14 goals shipped in the process, leaving their survival prospects looking bleak.Tottenham… or Spurs, or Tottenham Hotspur, whatever the club wishes to be called… can be a curious team under Postecoglou.Most read in FootballThey seem to live in ‘moments’ – modern-day football-speak for spells in games – more than most sides.Emotional ex-Tottenham star Nabil Bentaleb, 30, scores just four minutes into return after suffering cardiac arrestAnd those moments can shift dramatically from exhilarating ones to desperate ones and back again in any game, against any opposition.They survived a bad one in the opening six minutes as Ipswich livewire striker Liam Delap ripped them apart.Delap raced clear and had a shot well-saved by Guglielmo Vicario inside the first 30 seconds.Jaden Philogene’s rebound strike would have gone in had it not hit an offside Hutchinson near the line.Delap then breezed past Archie Gray, restored to the heart of Spurs’ backline in Ben Davies’ absence, and prodded a shot just wide of the far post.Spurs’ scare from the ex-Manchester City man continued when he flicked Kalvin Phillips’ free-kick onto the post before it was hacked away.But then came a moment of devastating brilliance from Postecoglou’s side.Gray, deployed at right centre-back with Kevin Danso switched to the left, lofted an inch-perfect ball over the top to Son Heung-min.Omari Hutchinson got the home team back in it in the first haldCredit: AFPHowever, Djed Spence killed off all hope of a comebackCredit: RexThe South Korean still had plenty to do and proceeded to fool Ben Godfrey with a clever step-over, before fizzing the ball across the six-yard area for Johnson to convert.Johnson and Son’s double act was repeated on 26 minutes as Rodrigo Bentancur sent the latter clear down the left.Son cut in and was afforded an age to pick out Wales star Johnson, back in the starting line-up for the first time since January’s win at Tamworth due to a calf issue, to slot home.In between the two clinical strikes, Danso had pulled off an audacious Cruyff-turn to get himself out of trouble when last man, to the delight of the travelling fans.The home supporters, meanwhile, had gone quiet, but their enthusiasm was reignited when their side grabbed one back out of nothing – and in style.Phillips played the ball out to former Spurs kid Jack Clarke, whose first-time ball was met with a beautiful, first-time strike from Hutchinson that found the corner.Dejan Kulusevski put the gloss on a fine away performance by SpursCredit: GettyKulusevski celebrates scoring his side’s fourth goalCredit: PALuke Woolfenden, on for Godfrey at half-time, thought he had levelled around the hour mark but he had wandered offside when heading in from close range.READ MORE SUN STORIESFormer Norwich man James Maddison was booed every time he touched the ball but it was his dancing feet which teed up Spence to find the net via Woolfenden’s hefty deflection.If the game was not up then, it certainly was seven minutes later when Kulusevski curled in off the post before roaring in relieved celebration. More