Palace claim Potters victory

12 April 2012

A superb long-range goal from Jose Fonte helped Crystal Palace claim a 2-1 win over Stoke which lifts the Eagles into the Coca-Cola Championship play-off places.

The Palace centre-back scored on the stroke of half-time to double his side's advantage after Tom Soares had headed Palace in front in the 21st minute.

Glenn Whelan pulled a goal back for the Potters six minutes from time but Palace held on and climb up to sixth place at the expense of Wolves, while Stoke remain a point behind leaders Bristol City in second place.

Palace broke the deadlock after 23 minutes against the run of play.

On-loan Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair found space down the right flank and delivered a dangerous ball into the penalty area.

Soares evaded the attention of the Stoke defence and powerfully headed the ball past goalkeeper Carlo Nash from close range.

Fonte then doubled Palace's advantage on the stroke of half-time when he latched on to a loose ball on the edge of penalty area. The Palace centre-back unleashed a superb first-time shot which flew past Nash and into the top-right corner of the net.

The Potters began the second half positively and Richard Cresswell's drive from a narrow angle was tipped over the bar by Julian Speroni seven minutes after the interval.

Their pressure eventually paid off in the 84th minute when Whelan pulled a goal back.

The midfielder found space outside the penalty and struck a powerful right-footed shot which beat the dive of Speroni and flew into the top-right corner of the net.

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