Jean-philippe Mateta’s Hat-trick Rescues Crystal Palace In Thrilling Draw With Bournemouth

For astir of this breathless encounter, Bournemouth supporters were relishing nan imaginable of going apical of nan Premier League, albeit perchance only for a fewer hours, and inflicting only Crystal Palace’s 2nd location conclusion of 2025. Andoni Iraola’s awesome broadside had led done 2 goals from teen Eli Junior Kroupi earlier being pegged backmost by Jean-Philippe Mateta and thought they had won it erstwhile substitute Ryan Christie scored pinch 2 minutes of normal clip remaining. But Mateta, who scored connected his world debut for France successful midweek, had different ideas arsenic he converted a precocious punishment to complete his hat-trick, though he could moreover person won it had he converted a awesome chance astatine nan death.

Much of nan attraction earlier this crippled had focussed connected nan men successful nan dugouts, pinch some Iraola and Oliver Glasner retired of statement successful nan summertime and coveted by clubs pinch overmuch bigger budgets. The Bournemouth owner, Bill Foley, is owed to recreation to nan UK earlier nan extremity of nan period to proceed discussions pinch nan Spaniard that will surely beryllium moreover much of a privilege fixed their unthinkable commencement to nan season. Palace besides find themselves successful nan dizzy heights of nan apical half of nan array having grounded to triumph immoderate of their first 8 games past play but showed erstwhile again nan squad tone they person fostered nether their Austrian manager.

Glasner has built his occurrence astatine Palace connected a watertight defence yet they recovered themselves down aft conscionable 7 minutes aft an awesome commencement from nan visitors. The velocity pinch which Bournemouth’s beforehand 4 pressed from nan first whistle unsettled their opponents and it was from an early area that Kroupi, starting only his 2nd convention crippled since arriving from Bournemouth’s sister nine Lorient successful nan summertime owed to a calf wounded to Evanilson, was capable to caput location nan outstanding Antoine Semenyo’s flick connected contempt a suspicion of offside. “We’re apical of nan league,” sang nan travelling supporters, astir apt successful flimsy disbelief.

Mateta should person equalised from Yeremy Pino’s transverse midway done nan first half arsenic Palace started to find immoderate holes successful Bournemouth’s new-look defence. At nan different end, Semenyo was proving a changeless menace arsenic he forced Dean Henderson into a afloat agelong prevention aft making abstraction for himself wrong nan box. An immaculate portion of power successful his ain half was nan spark for Bournemouth’s second, pinch Chris Richards near for dormant arsenic he sped down nan near flank and delivered a debased cross. Marc Guéhi, who Glasner confirmed this week will time off connected a free transportation adjacent summer, could only divert it consecutive to Kroupi and Henderson was incapable to forestall his volley from going complete nan line. It needed a last-ditch involution from Djordje Petrovic to contradict Mateta conscionable earlier nan break but location was nary statement that Bournemouth deserved their 2-0 lead.

Eli Junior Kroupi puts Bournemouth 2-0 up against Crystal Palace. Photograph: Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Palace began nan 2nd half pinch overmuch much intent but a infinitesimal of contention 5 minutes successful hinted that it mightiness not beryllium their afternoon. Ismaila Sarr was cleanable done connected extremity erstwhile he was brought down by Marcos Senesi, though referee Jarred Gillett decided that only warranted a yellowish paper arsenic he felt nan Senegal guardant was heading distant from goal. After overmuch deliberation from nan video adjunct referee, and to Glasner’s clear annoyance, nan original determination stood. But Palace’s fortunes abruptly changed erstwhile nan Mateta’s extremity from Daniel Muñoz transverse was initially ruled retired for offside earlier being quickly overturned. Within minutes he had his 2nd of nan day erstwhile he someway turned nan shot successful from a tight perspective aft Petrovic had saved from Muñoz arsenic Selhurst Park erupted.

Senesi escaped again erstwhile he appeared to shove Sarr complete erstwhile he was base down connected extremity but Gillett waved distant Palace’s protests. Eddie Nketiah had nan shot into nett but this clip it was correctly disallowed for offside, pinch Christie reasoning he had snatched nan points aft ramming location from adjacent range. But Mateta ensured that honours ended moreover erstwhile Bafodé Diakité was ruled to person fouled Guéhi successful stoppage time.