Jean-Philippe Mateta marked his return to the Crystal Palace starting line-up with his first goal since New Year’s Day as the Eagles put one foot into the Conference League semi-final with a 3-0 win over Fiorentina in the last eight first leg.
Mateta, who hadn’t started since January 25, converted from the penalty spot before Tyrick Mitchell capitalised on some calamitous Fiorentina defending to net a second. Ismaila Sarr added a third late on to put Palace into the driving seat going into next week’s second leg in Florence.
After netting three at Selhurst Park for the first time since November, Palace are now on a run of five without defeat and are unbeaten in their last seven Conference League games.
A three-week break for Palace has paid off, with Oliver Glasner’s side a different unit from the off. There was a renewed energy to a side that had settled for goalless draws in two of their three matches in the run-up to the international break. Fiorentina, who are five points above the relegation zone in Serie A, struggled to deal with Palace’s intense start.
The pace at which Palace began the game culminated in Dodo’s late challenge on Evann Guessand in the area. Minutes after Mateta had slotted his spot kick past David de Gea, the former Manchester United goalkeeper had to pick the ball out of the back of his net once more.
Daichi Kamada’s ball over the top found an unmarked Daniel Munoz in the area who played it across to Mateta. De Gea saved the France forward’s initial effort but Mitchell was there to follow up.
Fiorentina had a short spell in the second half where they began to threaten. However, away from hitting the bar, Henderson remained largely untested before Sarr buried a Kamada cross to seal La Viola’s fate in south London.
More to follow.
