Crystal Palace rally late with Mateta brace to sink Newcastle

Substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta scored a dramatic late double as Crystal Palace came from behind to beat Newcastle United.

The visitors looked to be on course for a much-needed victory following William Osula’s first-half strike at Selhurst Park.

But Newcastle have thrown away more points from winning positions (25) than any other side in the Premier League and Crystal Palace came roaring back late on.

Newcastle breathed a sigh of relief after Jefferson Lerma’s header crashed off the crossbar, but the hosts eventually equalised in the 80th minute.

Daniel Munoz broke forward down the right and the defender’s cross was coolly hooked back across by Tyrick Mitchell to Mateta, who headed the ball down and into the net to leave manager Oliver Glasner jumping for joy on the touchline.

Opposite number Eddie Howe, by contrast, bowed his head, but the Newcastle head coach’s afternoon was about to get even worse.

Referee Andy Madley awarded Crystal Palace a penalty in the first minute of stoppage time when defender Sven Botman pulled Jefferson Lerma’s shirt inside the box.

Up stepped Mateta, who picked out the bottom right corner to the delight of the home supporters.

The hosts’ win meant they leapfrogged Newcastle into 13th place, as Howe’s team fell to 14th.

Crystal Palace travel to the Artemio Franchi Stadium for the second leg of their European quarter-final against Fiorentina on Thursday, 16 April (20:00 GMT) before welcoming West Ham to Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Monday, 20 April (20:00 GMT).

Newcastle host Bournemouth at St James’ Park on Saturday, 18 April (15:00 GMT) before a trip to Arsenal a week later on Saturday, 25 April (17:30 GMT).

(BBC)