Selhurst Park erupted in the dying moments as Jean-Philippe Mateta buried a penalty into the bottom right corner, sealing a stunning 2-1 comeback victory for Crystal Palace over Newcastle United. The French striker, introduced as a second-half substitute, turned the game on its head with a late brace, handing Eddie Howe’s side a third consecutive defeat.
Just over a year ago, Newcastle dismantled Palace 5-0 at St James’ Park, with Alexander Isak capping off a dominant display. Fast forward to this clash, and the tables have turned dramatically. Newcastle arrived at Selhurst Park reeling from back-to-back losses to Barcelona and Sunderland last month, and that lack of confidence was palpable throughout.
William Osula gave the visitors an unexpected lead just before halftime, finishing from close range against the run of play. Despite going ahead, Newcastle never looked in control. Oliver Glasner’s Palace side pressed aggressively, sensing vulnerability in a team still nursing wounds from recent setbacks.
Glasner’s tactical masterstroke came in the second half when he brought on Mateta. The move paid immediate dividends. With 10 minutes remaining, Mateta powered home a header to level the score at 1-1, injecting life into the home crowd.
The drama peaked in injury time. Sven Botman’s shirt-pull on Jefferson Lerma inside the box gifted Palace a penalty. Mateta stepped up and coolly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner, securing all three points and sending Selhurst into a frenzy.
Newcastle’s third straight loss highlights their ongoing struggles, while Palace’s resilience under Glasner shines through. Mateta’s impact off the bench—two goals in limited minutes—underscores his talismanic role and the tactical acumen that flipped this contest on its head.
