Jean-Philippe Mateta delivered a stunning performance at Selhurst Park, scoring a hat-trick — including a dramatic 97th-minute penalty — as Crystal Palace battled back from two goals down to earn a 3-3 draw with Bournemouth in a Premier League classic.
In a chaotic finale, Mateta completed his treble from the penalty spot after Marc Guehi was brought down in the box by Bafode Diakite during a corner kick. The French striker had the chance to win it moments later but fired over the bar in the 99th minute, leaving both sides to settle for a point.
The match had earlier looked set to go Bournemouth’s way after 19-year-old Eli Kroupi, making his first Premier League start, scored twice to put the visitors 2-0 ahead.
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Palace hit back midway through the second half, with Mateta scoring twice in five minutes to make it 2-2 and swing the momentum in the hosts’ favour. However, Ryan Christie restored Bournemouth’s lead in the 89th minute, seemingly sealing victory — until Mateta’s late heroics saved the day.
The draw caps a remarkable spell for Mateta, who recently made his France debut on October 10 against Azerbaijan and scored his first international goal three days later in a 2-2 draw with Iceland.
The result lifts Crystal Palace to eighth in the Premier League table, while Bournemouth sit fourth. The Cherries would have briefly gone top with a win, depending on Arsenal’s result later in the day against Fulham.
