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Christian Benteke wants to repay faith shown by Crystal Palace

Christian Benteke celebrates scoring for Crystal Palace
Image: Christian Benteke netted an injury-time winner for Crystal Palace at Sunderland

Christian Benteke is hoping to repay Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew and chairman Steve Parish with more goals after bagging a dramatic stoppage-time winner at Sunderland.

Palace broke their transfer record to sign the Belgium international from Liverpool in the summer, splashing out £32m to end their pursuit for a new forward.

On Saturday, Benteke produced a priceless 94th-minute winner as Palace came from two goals down to win 3-2 at the Stadium of Light and claim their third successive Premier League victory.

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Highlights: Sunderland 2-3 Crystal Palace

"The manager and chairman did everything to bring me here and therefore I have to give them something back, and the best way of doing that is to do my best and by scoring goals," he told the club's official website.

"Today was a successful one for me and the team. Since the draw against Bournemouth, we have shown what we are about, but we must continue to do that.

Alan Pardew had praise for Joe Ledley, Christian Benteke and Zeki Fryers after the win at Sunderland
Image: Alan Pardew broke Crystal Palace's transfer record to sign Benteke

"Today showed why English football is the best league in the world because from the first minute to the last, everything is possible and we go away with all three points."

Palace had found themselves 2-0 down on Wearside, with Sunderland forward Jermain Defoe grabbing a brace for the home side.

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Joe Ledley, whose woeful backpass had led to Defoe's second, made amends within seconds of his mistake by pulling a goal back just after the hour mark.

James McArthur restored parity with 14 minutes remaining before Benteke met Lee Chung-yong's 94th-minute free-kick with an unstoppable header.

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Paul Merson shares his thoughts on the game between Sunderland and Crystal Palace at the Stadium of Light

Benteke added: "You have to be patient in this game and I knew that my chance would come and when I saw the cross coming into the box, I knew I had to score.

"As soon as I knew we had a free-kick at that position, I said to Chungy to put the ball on the penalty spot and I was confident I could get the goal, and that is what happened."

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