Crystal Palace FC rescued a late point at Selhurst Park as Jean Philippe Mateta came off the bench to deny Everton FC a crucial win in their push for European qualification in a tightly contested Premier League encounter.
The match ended 2–2 after Mateta struck in the 77th minute, cancelling out a second half goal from Beto and ensuring Everton missed the chance to climb into the top half of the table and strengthen their European hopes.
Everton had taken an early lead in the sixth minute through James Tarkowski, who finished from close range after a corner delivery created chaos in the Palace box.
Crystal Palace FC responded through Ismaila Sarr, whose deflected effort restored parity in the first half after sustained pressure from the hosts.
The Toffees regained control early in the second half when Beto finished clinically after a long pass from Tarkowski, holding off defenders before sliding the ball past the Palace goalkeeper.
However, Palace, managed by Oliver Glasner, continued to push forward despite their recent European commitments, having secured a place in the UEFA Conference League final earlier in the week.
Their persistence paid off when Everton failed to clear a cross, allowing Mateta to unleash a powerful finish into the top of the net, bringing the game level.
Both sides had late chances to win the match but were unable to find a decisive goal as the encounter ended in a draw.
The result leaves Everton sitting in 10th place, missing a key opportunity to move level on points with teams pushing for possible European qualification depending on cup outcomes and final league standings.
For Crystal Palace, the draw adds to their momentum ahead of their historic European final while maintaining their solid position in the Premier League table.
The match also highlighted the growing importance of squad depth and fixture management for Palace as they balance domestic commitments with European ambitions.
With only a few matches remaining in the season, Everton’s hopes of European football now depend on results elsewhere as well as their own final fixtures.
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