Jean-Philippe Mateta transforms Palace with two-goal cameo in Newcastle win | OneFootball

Jean-Philippe Mateta came off the bench to turn 1-0 into 2-1 against Newcastle at Selhurst Park. The Holmesdale Road end erupted as the substitute settled it in stoppage time.

According to NY Times, the substitute transformed the mood, cajoling the crowd and bullying centre-backs. His cameo felt improbable only weeks after he seemed set to leave.

Before he arrived, Palace’s reshaped attack lacked presence, with Strand Larsen, Brennan Johnson and Yeremy Pino too easily repelled. They won four of 14 ground duels and the game’s combined xG was 0.09 in the opening 30 minutes. Pino tried to spark things but lacked support.

Mateta immediately won a free-kick by holding off Malick Thiaw, then Jefferson Lerma headed Pino’s delivery wide. He nodded in with Aaron Ramsdale stranded after fine work by Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell, then converted from the spot after Lerma was fouled. Introduced with Ismaila Sarr and Adam Wharton, he kept whipping up the crowd to the whistle as Eddie Howe looked stunned.

In late January, Oliver Glasner said it made no sense to play him against Nottingham Forest amid Milan interest. With Jorgen Strand Larsen signed for big money and Mateta out until 12 March through the proposed move and injury, days like this looked unlikely before what still felt like an inevitable summer exit. He scored his first Palace goal since January in Thursday’s 3-0 Conference League quarter-final first leg with Fiorentina, then returned to the Premier League scoresheet here.

Source: NY Times