AMSTERDAM – Tim Howard had his seven-game win streak abruptly halted on Wednesday, as Everton lost control of the Premier League's last Champions League place with a galling 3-2 home loss to Crystal Palace.
The US netminder managed but one save, a good close-range denial of Joe Ledley just past intermission. Howard's thankless deflection of a low cross ran up the middle to help set up the Palace opener, but he will probably wish to have done better to stop Scott Dann's second from a corner kick just past halftime.
The result, which also ended Howard's string of seven straight EPL wins at Goodison Park, dipped the Toffies to a point below fourth-place Arsenal with four games remaining for both. Everton do still hold a plus-four goal differential against the Gunners.
Elsewhere, Jozy Altidore went unused as a late Connor Wickham double earned Sunderland a 2-2 share at Manchester City. Though the draw snaps a five-game losing slide for the Black Cats, they remain in the league cellar, seven points from safety with two games in hand.
