Mateta Marks Return with Goal as Palace Dominate Fiorentina 3-0

Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrated his first start since January with a goal, helping Crystal Palace secure a 3-0 victory over Fiorentina in the Conference League quarterfinals. Mateta converted a penalty kick before Tyrick Mitchell added a second goal, capitalizing on a defensive mistake by Fiorentina. Ismaila Sarr sealed the win with a late goal, putting Palace in a strong position ahead of the second leg in Florence. The win extends Palace's unbeaten run to five games and seven Conference League matches without a loss. After a three-week break, Oliver Glasner's team showed renewed energy, overwhelming Fiorentina from the start. The visitors struggled to cope with Palace's intense pressure, which led to Mateta's penalty kick after a late challenge on Evann Guessand. Mitchell soon followed up with a second goal after David de Gea saved Mateta's initial effort. Although Fiorentina had a brief spell of pressure in the second half, they were unable to test Henderson significantly before Sarr scored the third goal. Mateta expressed his happiness with the win, stating that he had dreamed of scoring and was pleased to have contributed to the team's victory. Oliver Glasner praised Mateta's performance, highlighting his tireless work ethic and importance to the team.