AliousCrystal palace Jean-Philippe Mateta’s trio of goals sealed a resounding 5-0 triumph for Crystal Palace against Aston Villa, propelling the team to match their record 10th-place finish and 49 points in the Premier League. Mateta, who has found the net nine times in the last eight games for the Eagles, became only the second player from Palace to hit a hat-trick in a Premier League match, and notably, the first at Selhurst Park.
Mateta was quick to score for Oliver Glasner’s team, finding the net nine minutes into the game and again before halftime, although a potential fourth goal was disallowed after the break.
Eberechi Eze’s double dashed any remaining hopes for an Aston Villa resurgence, contributing to Palace’s season-high of 57 goals, marking a turnaround from earlier concerns over their offensive capabilities.
For Unai Emery’s side, which is set to compete in the Champions League, there wasn’t much to celebrate, except for the inclusion of his son, goalkeeper Lander Emery, among the substitutes on the season’s final day.
Both Jefferson Lerma and Marc Guehi made a comeback to Glasner’s squad for the match, with Lerma on the bench after a month’s absence and Guehi starting for the first time since February.
The match began with limited opportunities until Dean Henderson deflected Douglas Luiz’s free-kick five minutes in.
Mateta continued his impressive scoring run, taking a pass from Olise and gliding it past Robin Olsen, marking Palace’s 11th opening score in their last 12 games under Glasner.
After surviving a VAR review, the goal stood, and Palace kept their lead intact, with Henderson thwarting Moussa Diaby’s attempts, and Ollie Watkins’ header missing the mark. Despite controlling the play, Eze’s shot was easily handled by Olsen.
However, Olsen was powerless to stop Mateta’s close-range goal from Daniel Munoz’s excellent cross in the 39th minute, and he barely touched a later attempt by Olise to keep the deficit from widening before halftime.
Eze, potentially leaving south London, added a third goal shortly after the second half began, and while Olise missed a chance to score, Mateta didn’t, securing the fourth goal for Palace.
Although Mateta’s subsequent goal was disallowed for offside, Eze completed his brace in the 69th minute, with Mateta assisting.
Glasner then made his first substitutions, bringing on Lerma for Guehi and Odsonne Edouard for Mateta, as Jairo Riedewald and James Tomkins played their final minutes for the Eagles.
Eze’s future with the team is uncertain, as he was substituted two minutes before the end, acknowledging the fans’ warm applause.
Whether he will stay or go is yet to be determined.
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