Having already dismissed Leicester and Tranmere Rovers, respectively the winners and runners-up in last season's competition, Crystal Palace have grounds for insisting their name is on the trophy this time. Clinton Morrison's winner with eight minutes left at Selhurst Park strengthened that belief last night.It was a magnificent effort in which he first outwitted Emerson Thome before placing his volley neatly into the far corner. And, unlike the start of the half when Mikael Forssell's goal was immediately cancelled by Alex Rae, this time the first division side held on to book their semifinal place against Liverpool.Peter Reid decided not to risk Niall Quinn, whose recurring back problem has curtailed his midweek appearances. The Sunderland manager gave Stefan Schwarz his first full game since he ruptured a tendon nine months ago, and a rare call up for Stanislav Varga who has struggled following an impressive debut on the opening day of the season.Both sides looked surprisingly nervy in the opening period considering their respective recent runs - Sunderland suffering a rare Premiership defeat at Leeds at the weekend having recently moved into the top six, and Palace enjoying an 11match unbeaten stretch that included knocking holders Leicester out of this competition.Those nerves got the better of the players in the 18th minute when Jamie Smith entered referee Alan Wiley's notebook for his part in a melee that escalated from a challenge on Michael Gray.Veteran Neil Ruddock followed his team-mate minutes later for hacking down Kevin Kilbane as Sunderland sought the opener.Early on Sunderland were cut apart, seeking the offside flag, when Clinton Morrison accepted a diagonal pass from Fan Zhiyi. Thomas Sorensen succeeded in taking the sting out of the shot and Darren Williams cleared from beneath the crossbar.Palace had enough possession and zest to encourage their supporters but it was some time before they could claim a chance to rival that. Meanwhile Danny Dichio, the replacement for Quinn, missed when found by Alex Rae's quick free-kick, and a similar opportunity was created on the half hour following Dichio's nod on. Julio Arca had time to select his corner of the net but allowed Aleksandrs Kolinko to get a hand to it.A goal on either occasion would have helped Sunderland better absorb the pressure in their penalty area, which increased the nearer it came to the half-time whistle. From some distance away Tommy Black put his free-kick direct on goal and Sorensen was grateful to see it pass the wrong side of the post.Later the diminutive midfielder went for glory and ignored the sensible option of a cutback when discovering space tight to the by-line. Then Morrison was only inches away himself as Palace finished the half on the up.They immediately picked up the momentum again and led two minutes after the restart. Sorensen miscued as he attempted to hammer a back pass back up field and Morrison was composure itself as he strode on to the loose ball before squaring it into Forssell's path, and the flamehaired Finn calmly rolled it into the empty net.The lead, so spiritedly pursued, was to last less than 60 seconds, however, when Arca crossed from the right, Dichio cushioned his header and Rae supplied the finish.
Dichio was quickly back, firing low at Kolinko who fielded it cleanly, as he did when Rae broke free once more down the right.So were Sunderland beginning to gain the upper hand? Not so - Palace twice struck the cross bar around the hour, firstly from Forssell in what would have been a stunning individual effort and then from Morrison in the very next move.CRYSTAL PALACE: Kolinko, Smith, Austin, Zhiyi, Ruddock, Mullins, Rodger, Morrison (Carlisle 90), Black (Thomson 87), Forssell, Pollock. Subs Not Used:Gray, Gregg, Harrison. Booked: Smith, Ruddock, Black. Goals: Forssell 48, Morrison 82.SUNDERLAND: Sorensen, Gray, Williams, Varga, Thome, Arca (McCann 57), Kilbane, Rae, Schwarz (Oster 81), Dichio, Phillips. Subs Not Used: Marriott, Craddock, Thirlwell. Goals: Rae 49.Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood).
