Mateta Makes Instant Impact as Crystal Palace Take Control Against Fiorentina

Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrated his return to the Crystal Palace starting lineup with a goal, his first since the beginning of the year, as the team dominated Fiorentina 3-0 in the first leg of their Conference League quarterfinal matchup. Mateta, who hadn't started a game since January 25, scored from the penalty spot before Tyrick Mitchell capitalized on a defensive mistake by Fiorentina to score the second goal. Ismaila Sarr sealed the victory with a late goal, putting Crystal Palace in a strong position ahead of the second leg in Florence. This win marks the first time Crystal Palace has scored three goals at Selhurst Park since November and extends their unbeaten run to five games, with seven consecutive unbeaten matches in the Conference League. The team's renewed energy after a three-week break was evident from the start, with Fiorentina struggling to cope with the intense pace. Despite a brief spell of pressure from Fiorentina in the second half, Crystal Palace remained in control, with Sarr's goal securing a significant advantage. Mateta expressed his happiness with the win, stating he had dreamed of scoring and was pleased to have contributed to the team's victory. Manager Oliver Glasner praised Mateta's dedication and hard work, highlighting his importance to the team. Glasner also commended the team's overall performance, acknowledging a brief period of difficulty in the second half but emphasizing the positive energy and result.