Crystal Palace 3-0 Fiorentina: Mateta 24 pen, Mitchell 31, Sarr 90
Crystal Palace produced an excellent performance at Selhurst Park to overwhelm Fiorentina 3-0 and put themselves firmly in control of their Conference League quarter-final.
Leading the charge was Jean-Philippe Mateta, who marked his first start since January with a goal and an influential all-round performance, even if he did let a number of golden opportunities go begging.
The striker opened the scoring midway through the first half from the penalty spot after Dodo brought down Evann Guessand inside the box. Mateta made no mistake, calmly sending David De Gea the wrong way.
Palace quickly built on their lead when just minutes later, Daniel Munoz delivered a superb cross that Mateta met at close range, forcing a great reaction save from De Gea. The rebound fell kindly for Tyrick Mitchell, who reacted quickest to fire home the second.
Fiorentina, regulars at this stage of the competition in recent years, were passive, excessively lethargic at the back and struggled to cope with Palace’s energy. They could easily have been further behind before the break, with Guessand and Maxence Lacroix both going close.
The visitors showed brief signs of life after the restart, with Giovanni Fabbian striking the crossbar when he really should have scored. But Palace remained largely in control, their defence well marshalled and their transitions continuing to trouble Fiorentina.
Mateta had a chance to cap his return with a second goal but headed wastefully wide from close range, before talisman Ismaila Sarr sealed the victory late on. The winger rose to meet a precise delivery and powered a header past De Gea to leave Palace within touching distance of a second major trophy in two years under Oliver Glasner.
