Wilfried Zaha came off the bench to secure Crystal Palace a point in a pulsating 3-3 draw with Newcastle United at St James' Park this afternoon.
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Palace led inside one minute when Dwight Gayle, who scored a hat-trick against Walsall in the League Cup during the week, converted from close range after Tim Krul had parried Marouane Chamakh's shot.
Jason Puncheon came close to making it 2-0 after 10 minutes, but the midfielder could only fire high and wide of the crossbar following bright work from Yannick Bolasie.
Emmanuel Riviere had a half chance for Newcastle midway through the first period after strong play from Siem de Jong, but Scott Dann just beat the forward to the cross.
Moussa Sissoko was next to come close for the home team, but his effort was deflected over the crossbar during a dominant period for the Magpies.
Opportunities continued to arrive late in the half, and it was Daryl Janmaat who poked home Newcastle's equaliser from close range after 37 minutes.
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Palace were back in front in the early stages of the second half, however, when Puncheon found the back of the net with a powerful volley following more good work from Bolasie.
The away side should have had a third just before the hour mark when Martin Kelly dribbled into the Newcastle box before arrowing a shot towards the bottom corner, but Krul was on hand to make an important save.
Newcastle went down the other end with Yoan Gouffran on 63 minutes, but Dann came across to deny the Frenchman with a last-ditch challenge.
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The home side were level after 73 minutes, however, when teenage substitute Rolando Aarons headed home from close range after a Janmaat flick on.
Zaha, who rejoined Palace on loan from Manchester United last week, had two good opportunities to win it for Palace late on, but was denied by the diving Krul on both occasions.
Aarons then had a chance for the home side after finding some space inside the box, but the teenager curled his effort just wide of the post in what was a notable cameo.
Aarons was also involved in Newcastle's third when his effort smashed the post, and Williamson was on hand to finish from close range, but Palace secured a point in stoppage time when Zaha finished past Krul.
Matt Law
