Jean-Philippe Mateta marked his return to Crystal Palace's starting lineup with a goal, helping the Eagles secure a commanding 3-0 victory over Fiorentina in the first leg of their Conference League quarter-final. Mateta, who hadn't started a match since January, converted from the penalty spot, while Tyrick Mitchell and Ismaila Sarr added to the scoreline. With a three-goal advantage, Palace are in a strong position ahead of next week’s return leg in Florence.
Mateta’s Long-Awaited Goal Puts Palace in Front
Jean-Philippe Mateta made an immediate impact in his first start since January, opening the scoring for Palace with a well-taken penalty. The opportunity came after Fiorentina’s Dodo was adjudged to have fouled Evann Guessand in the box. Mateta slotted the ball past former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea to give Palace the lead.
Minutes later, Palace doubled their advantage, thanks to some poor defending from Fiorentina. Daichi Kamada's clever pass over the top found Daniel Munoz, whose cross was initially saved by de Gea. However, Tyrick Mitchell was on hand to follow up, tapping in the rebound to make it 2-0.
Sarr Seals Victory as Fiorentina Struggle to Respond
Fiorentina had a brief spell in the second half where they appeared to find their rhythm, creating a few chances, including hitting the crossbar. However, they failed to test Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson effectively. Despite their efforts, Palace's defense stood firm, and the hosts sealed the win late on when Ismaila Sarr scored from a Kamada cross, making it 3-0.
The goal effectively ended Fiorentina's hopes of a comeback in the first leg, and with the three-goal cushion, Palace head into the second leg with a significant advantage. Fiorentina struggled to deal with Palace’s high tempo, and while they had moments of promise, they were ultimately overwhelmed by Palace's clinical finishing.
Mateta and Glasner Reflect on Palace's Strong Performance
After the match, Jean-Philippe Mateta expressed his joy at returning to the starting lineup and scoring a goal, saying, "What a night. It's been a long time, I didn’t play, I didn’t start. I'm very happy, and very happy my guy (Mitchell) scored as well." He also spoke about his dreams of scoring: "I dreamt about scoring for nights. I did and I am so happy."
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner was equally pleased with the team’s performance, especially Mateta’s contribution. "He always gives 100% effort to the team, 100% effort for Crystal Palace," said Glasner. "It was great to see him back and scoring. I'm pleased for him, and I'm pleased for us." Glasner acknowledged the team’s strong start, but also noted areas for improvement in the second half, where Fiorentina put up more of a fight. However, he was satisfied with the overall performance, particularly the energy from both the team and the fans at Selhurst Park.
With the 3-0 lead, Palace are in a commanding position going into the second leg in Florence. However, with a spot in the semi-finals still up for grabs, they will need to maintain their focus as they look to close out the tie next Thursday.
