Report: Mateta earns Palace huge win against Spurs

Summary:

• Glasner makes three changes, with Mateta, Sarr and Wharton returning to the XI.
• Mateta gives Palace the lead with an emphatic finish from close range.
• Spurs strike the inside of the post moments later.
• Henderson saves smartly from Maddison.
• HT: Palace 1-0 Spurs
• Eze has the ball in the back of the net, but had strayed narrowly offside.
• Palace have a huge penalty appeal turned down after Eze is hauled down in the box.
• Eze volleys narrowly wide from the penalty spot.
• Sarr is hauled down when through on goal but Van de Ven avoids a red card.
• Wharton is denied by a spectacular Vicario save.
• FT: Palace 1-0 Spurs

For much of the first-half, this was a game which meandered along in the glorious South London sunshine, with both sides full of intent and ambition but unable to translate into chances.

Then, Mateta exploded onto the scene once again. Re-introduced to the lineup by Oliver Glasner, he repaid the manager’s faith by opening the scoring with an emphatic finish from close range.

Spurs only had themselves to blame, having tried twice to play out from the back under intense Palace pressure, and twice got themselves into trouble. This time, Daniel Muñoz raced in to win the ball back and cross for Ebere Eze, who flicked on to Mateta.

Vicario had no chance as Mateta went for sheer power from 10 yards out, smashing home to spark wild celebrations in the stands and in the dugout.

Palace pushed on in an effort to build on their lead before half-time, with Will Hughes and Eze trying their luck, but unable to test Vicario.

At the other end, a Spurs corner emerged from a pile of bodies to strike the inside of the post, before Chalobah could clear off the line. Dean Henderson was called in to action and had to get down smartly to stop Maddison from equalising with virtually the final kick of the first-half.

The Eagles seem to emerge with even more intent after the break, and Eze had the ball in the back of the net just minutes into the second-half only to be denied by the offside flag.

There was controversy moments later, as Eze produced some vintage quick footwork to sit one Spurs defender down in the penalty area and round another, before being hauled down by Van de Ven as he looked to get his shot away.

The penalty appeals were deafening, but the referee was unmoved and VAR declined to intervene.

Further controversy followed as Sarr raced on to Mateta’s flick on, and was hauled down by Micky Van de Ven when he looked to be through on goal. The Dutchman escaped with only a yellow card.

Adam Wharton came mightily close to scoring his first Palace goal as he arrowed a fine effort towards the top corner, only for Vicario’s remarkable save to keep it out.

With seven minutes of time added on, Palace held firm in the face of late Spurs pressure to earn a clean sheet, three points and a first victory of the Premier League season.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Muñoz, Chalobah, Lacroix, Guéhi, Mitchell, Lerma (Hughes, 22), Wharton (Kamada, 88), Eze, Sarr (Nketiah, 67), Mateta

Subs: Turner (GK), Ward, Clyne, Kporha, Schlupp, Agbinone.

Spurs: Vicario (GK), Porro, van de Ven, Romero, Udogie, Bissouma (Bentancur, 86), Kulusevski (Sarr, 61), Maddison (Werner, 61), Moore (Richarlison, 61), Johnson, Solanke

Subs: Forster (GK), Dragusin, Gray, Bergvall, Davies

As it happened