Jean-Philippe Mateta scored his first goal for Crystal Palace since New Year’s Day as the South Londoners put one foot in the UEFA Conference League semi-finals with a 3-0 win over Fiorentina in their first leg quarter-final clash at Selhurst Park.
In one of the most important games in club history – their 12th UEFA game this season and first to sell out at home – the players entered the pitch in a flurry of ticker tape in swirling wind, reminiscent of the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.
And after withstanding an initial Italian attacking flurry, Palace took control.
Mateta, who started in place of the banned Jorgen Strand Larsen, made no mistake from the spot midway through the first half after Brazilian defender Dodô had brought down the onrushing Evann Guessand in the box after the Côte d'Ivoire international had shot. VAR ruled in favour of the home side and Mateta sent former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea the wrong way.
Mateta was making his first start for the Eagles since late January after missing out on a winter transfer window move to Fiorentina’s Serie A rivals AC Milan and subsequently continuing his recovery from a long-term knee issue.
Dodô received a yellow card for the foul, meaning he will now miss the second leg in Florence next week but just seven minutes later it got worse for the right back as his side went 2-0 behind.
A pinpoint pass from Japanese international Daichi Kamada pick-out Daniel Muñoz in the box, and falling backwards, the Colombian teed up Mateta whose point-blank shot was saved by De Gea, only for the quick-reacting Tyrick Mitchell to tap in via a deflection.
The first half 2-0 advantage was more than deserved for the home side and it could have been more with young French defender Jaydee Canvot marauding into the Italian box late on only to shoot weakly at de Gea.
As expected, the Italian side - battling relegation at home - came out strongly in the second period which was delayed as the spare ticker tape from the home end kept being thrown on the pitch, impeding de Gea in the Fiorentina goal.
Fiorentina coach Paolo Vanoli, who lost at Selhurst Park back in 2017 as part of the Chelsea coaching staff, saw his side throw more balls into the box, eventually causing Palace captain Dean Henderson to pull off his first real save on the hour mark, from Roberto Piccolo. But without injured striker Moise Kean, they lacked any real cutting edge.
Second half Palace substitute Yeremy Pino, introduced for the injured Guessand, then picked out Ismaila Sarr in the 80th minute who played the ball onto the head of Mateta at the back post, but he could only head wide. Moments later, Sarr then shot across goal, but the African champion was not to be denied as he headed home a cross from the excellent Kamada as the clock struck 90.
And it could have been 4-0 as Pino slid just short of the ball from a Muñoz cross in front of the Holmesdale Road stand in the 95th minute.
The 3-0 advantage is one to defend in Florence next week as the side from SE25 showed why so many observers had given them the ‘favourites’ tag in the competition, but as Fiorentina coach Vanoli said pre-match, the tie is two legs and Palace still have work to do to make the last four of their first-ever European campaign.
Palace: Henderson, Canvot, Lacroix, Richards, Mitchell, Kamada (Johnson, 90+4), Wharton (Hughes, 90+4), Muñoz, Guessand (Pino, 66), Mateta (Lerma, 83), Sarr
Unused subs: Benitez, Cardines, Clyne, Devenny, Hughes, Matthews, Riad, Sosa