Crystal Palace don hammer Fiorentina 3-0 for Uefa Conference League quarter-final first leg match wey dem play for Selhurst Park. Jean-Philippe Mateta score im first goal for over three months from penalty spot for 24th minute after Evann Guessand fall for Fiorentina defender Dodo tackle.
Mateta, wey dey make im first Palace start since im proposed move to AC Milan collapse, send David de Gea go wrong side for im penalty. The French striker karate-kick corner flag for celebration wey show say im happy well well.
Palace extend dia lead just seven minutes later when Tyrick Mitchell finish ball wey bounce from post after De Gea don save Mateta effort from close range. The home team dominate first half with Ismaila Sarr wey nearly score with curling long-range effort before half time.
Fiorentina come back for second half with better energy. Giovanni Fabbian crash shot against crossbar from Dodo cut-back, while Dean Henderson save header from Albert Gudmundsson and low strike from Roberto Piccoli.
But Palace kill the game for 90th minute when Sarr head Daichi Kamada cross past helpless De Gea for third goal. The header bounce up enter top corner wey leave Fiorentina players dey look like say dem don tire.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner voice im displeasure from sidelines when Fiorentina dey press for comeback, but im team regain composure and score late goal wey fit be decisive. The Eagles now carry three-goal advantage go Florence for second leg next week.
If dem get any doubt about Mateta commitment to Palace cause after im failed January departure, dem fit push am aside for now. The Eagles dey for uncharted territory for European competition, and the sight of flags, banners and white streamers as players enter pitch add to the occasion.
After campaign wey nearly enter crisis several times, quarter-final tie against Fiorentina side wey don reach semi-finals for each of past three seasons fit be step wey too far. But Mateta bullish first-half performance show Palace display wey far from laboured outings typical of dia campaign.
Before tonight, Palace don miss 36 of dia 46 big chances for the competition, more than any other side. Dem score only 16 goals from xG rating of 23.1, the greatest underperformance of any team. But for Thursday, Glasner side score when dem need am – twice when dominant for first half and then late to kill resurgent fight back.
Glasner don collect plenty criticism from Palace fans for recent months, but im fit take credit for bringing Daniel Munoz into XI and introducing Yeremy Pino midway through second half. Munoz provide much-needed width and quality from right flank, while Pino energy and drive help Palace reestablish press wey make Fiorentina dey hang before break.
Palace ride dia luck small small, but three more performances like dat fit make dem reach first European final for club history. Crystal Palace face quick turnaround before dem host Newcastle United for Premier League for Sunday. Fiorentina play Lazio for Serie A for Monday.
For other referee news, Barcelona don lodge formal complaint to UEFA after dem deny penalty against Atletico Madrid. Barca, wey dem don reduce to 10 men after Pau Cubarsi sending off, demand spot kick after Atletico defender Marc Pubill handle ball inside penalty area for 54th minute.
Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso pass ball to already yellow-carded Pubill, wey use im hand control am, like say im think say play no dey live. Barcelona players immediately appeal for penalty, but nothing give by on-field referee Istvan Kovacs or VAR.
Barcelona statement say: “FC Barcelona believe say referee performance contrary to regulations wey dey, directly impact match course and outcome. The complaint focus on specific incident.”
Forward Marcus Rashford vent im frustration over incident post-match, tell CBS Sports: “Na clear to me: na penalty. E don happen before and dem always give am. People dey talk about common sense, but common sense itself tell you na penalty.”
Manager Hansi Flick echo Rashford comments, say: “For me, na clear red card, well second yellow card and penalty. The VAR fit explain why e no review the play. E feel not good. E feel unfair.”
Meanwhile, FIFA don pick record 52 referees for World Cup wey go start for two months. Two women go dey among referees wey go officiate matches for tournament for United States, Mexico and Canada.
American Tori Penso and Mexican Katia Garcia dey for list of referees wey global soccer body FIFA announce for Thursday for the tournament. Three women select as assistant referees and one as video match official.
Na second time female referees go take part for men’s World Cup – for Qatar four years ago dem get three female referees and three female assistant referees. Penso be referee for Women’s World Cup final for 2023.
FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina say appointments make based on “long-standing ‘quality first’ principle. The fact say six women match officials select continue trend wey start four years ago for Qatar as we aim to further develop women’s refereeing.”
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
