Crystal Palace take giant stride towards Euro semis as they claim three goal lead over limited Fiorentina
- By Yann Tear at Selhurst Park
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
UEFA Conference League Quarter Final first leg
Crystal Palace (2) 3 Mateta pen 24, Mitchell 31, Sarr 90
Fiorentina (0) 0
They won't be booking their flights to Leipzig for the final just yet, but the semis look very much on the cards now for the Eagles after a late goal which made their victory over Fiorentina emphatic - if not almost unassailable.
The Italian side may not invoke the respectful trepidation they once did when they had the likes of Roberto Baggio and Gabriel Batistuta in the ranks but it is still a club with history - and two Europa Conference finals to their name in recent years. So this is a win that the fans should relish.
It was their best night on home soil in the competition - the group league stage was not always convincing - and the benefits of having a three week 'rest' since their last competitive fixture were obvious. This was a Palace side showing more energy than of late and they are now firmly in control of their own destiny.
The return leg at the Stadio Artemio Franchi might still be a testing night for the Eagles - but a workmanlike effort befitting artisans should suffice in the city of artists. A semi-final would be against AZ Alkmaar or Ukranians Shakhtar Donetsk, who lead 3-0 after their 'home' first leg in Poland.
A cautious opening from the Eagles meant it was a good 18 minutes before they pieced together anything resembling a chance but it was decent - Evann Guessand volleying wide with an outstretched boot after an exchange of passes with Daniel Munoz.
It had a galvanising effect as, moments later, Ismaila Sarr fed Guessand for another shot in the inside left position that he screwed wide, but which resulted in a penalty as he was fouled by full-back Dodo as he pulled the trigger.
Lithuanian ref Donatas Rumsas pointed to the spot and Jean-Philippe Mateta side-footed down the middle, with David de Gea diving to his right in vain. The French striker's first start since January had produced a vital moment.
There was more joy to come not long after when Munoz hooked the ball forward and Tyrick Mitchell followed up to poke home after de Gea - the famous former Man United stopper - had saved Mateta's close range effort.
Confidence was visibly growing. Even Jaydee Canvot was feeling good enough about how things were going to race between players from half way and reaching the penalty area. The final shot was tame but the signal of positivity was clear.
La Viola needed to show more and after the break, Giovanni Fabbian almost grabbed them a lifeline with a shot from inside the area that bounced off the top of the crossbar - Dodo having supplied a pass to carve open the Eagles rearguard.
Roberto Piccoli also forced Dean Henderson into a low save down by his left hand post. But there was not much more from them.
Yeremy Pino came on and almost helped set up a third goal. His pass out to Sarr gave the Ivorian plenty of time and room to hoist a cross towards the backpost where an unmarked Mateta scuffed a poor header off target.
But they would get that all important third goal when Daichi Kamada lifted a ball to the far post and Sarr's downward header bounced down off the turf and into the net.
There was even almost a fourth when a low cross in the last minute of injury time was very nearly touched home by Munoz.
They will take the three goal cushion though.
Eagles: (3-4-3) Henderson - Richards, Lacroix, Canvot - Munoz, Wharton (Hughes 94), Kamada (Johnson 94), Mitchell - Sarr, Mateta (Lerma 83), Guessand (Pino 65)
La Viola: (4-3-3) De Gea - Dodo, Pongracic (Comuzzo 82), Ranieri, Gosens (Balbo 78) - Fabbian, Fagioli (Madgragora 91), Ndour - Harrison (Fazzini 78), Piccoli, Gudmundsson
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