Report & Highlights: Palace hit back in scintillating draw with Everton

In an end-to-end contest, the Eagles twice came from behind in an entertaining Premier League contest, with Ismaïla Sarr cancelling out James Tarkowski’s early opener, before Mateta struck late after Beto had restored Everton’s advantage shortly after half-time.

There were chances for both sides to win the game late on – with Adam Wharton striking the post from distance – but in the end, a draw against a fresher side proved another positive result for the Eagles in SE25, stretching the Eagles' unbeaten home run to nine matches.

Summary:

• Two changes for Palace as Johnson and Strand Larsen come back into the starting XI
• 6 – Goal: Tarkowski gives Everton an early lead from a corner.
• 7: Wharton fires over from the edge of the box as Palace look to hit back.
• 17: Pickford saves from Lacroix moments before Henderson kicks away Dewsbury-Hall's effort.
• 34 – GOAL: Sarr smashes home with his left foot for a 20th goal of the season.
• 43: Toffees threaten from a corner, Sarr clearing off the line.
• HT: Palace 1-1 Everton
• 47 - Goal: Beto restores Everton's lead with a low finish.
• 53: Henderson tips over Dewsbury-Hall's deflected free-kick.
• 66: Pickford turns away Kamada's cross with Sarr threatening from close range.
• 77 - GOAL: Mateta turns sharply and smashes over Pickford from Mitchell pull-back.
• 84: Kamada sees another penalty shout turned down.
• 86: Mitchell's far-post header bounces down and narrowly wide.
• 89: Wharton hits the left post with a right footed strike from outside the box.
• 90+2: Henderson tips over Ndiaye's angled drive as both teams exchange chances.
• 90+3: Mateta chips Pickford in the dying seconds, but also clears the crossbar.
• FT: Palace 2-2 Everton

Crystal Palace returned to Selhurst Park after their memorable showing there less than three days prior, looking to continue their momentum after Thursday night’s Conference League success over Shakhtar Donetsk.

Despite the quick turnaround, Oliver Glasner made just two changes from the European victory, with Jørgen Strand Larsen and Brennan Johnson both coming into an otherwise-unchanged XI.

Everton made the brighter start and took the lead inside six minutes. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s corner from the right was flicked on towards the back post, where James Tarkowski reacted quickest to score from close range.

Setting the tone for the rest of the game, Palace – who could have been forgiven for playing with lesser energy – looked to make a quick response and, one minute later, Adam Wharton fired a rising right-footed half volley narrowly over the bar.

Some 10 minutes later, a quickfire exchange of chances, as both goalkeepers produced fine saves with their feet: first, Jordan Pickford saved from Maxence Lacroix's low effort across goal after Everton had failed to clear their lines, before Dean Henderson, up the other end, stopped Dewsbury-Hall's placed finish.

Palace gradually settled into the contest, with their equaliser arriving in the 34th minute.

After a driving run in from the right flank from Sarr, Everton failed to fully clear the danger and – after his first effort was blocked by Michael Keane – the ball broke kindly for the Senegal forward, whose rebound effort took a deflection before finding its way past Jordan Pickford.

It was Sarr's landmark 20th goal of a remarkable individual season, the first player to reach the milestone since Glenn Murray.

The goal lifted the atmosphere with chants of ‘we’re on our way to Leipzig’ echoing around Selhurst Park until half-time.

Everton did threaten from a corner again in the closing stages of the half – Tarkowski's header across goal needed dealing with by Sarr near the line.

In the early stages of the second-half, the pattern of the game resumed, as Everton restored their advantage almost immediately after the restart.

Moments after Strand Larsen had headed over from Daichi Kamada's cross, the Toffees retook the lead.

A long pass forward from Tarkowski released Beto through on goal who struck a composed strike through the legs of Dean Henderson.

Palace could have been cowed but, true to the spirit of this side, took it merely as motivation to step their performance up another gear.

Palace were seeing plenty of the ball around the Everton box, and Kamada almost scored when an in-swinging cross threaten to creep into the far post, with Sarr also challenging for it, only for Pickford to turn it around the post.

Mateta, who had struck twice off the bench in Palace's most recent Premier League home victory against Newcastle, then emerged for the final quarter-of-the-game.

And in the 10 minutes that followed, the Eagles continued to mount attack after attack, before the Frenchman had his moment again.

It was Tyrick Mitchell who was the architect of his latest goal, driving in from the left wing and pulling the ball back towards Sarr.

Everton failed to deal with the cross and the loose ball fell for Mateta inside the area, who reacted quickly, powering his finish over Pickford and into the roof of the net.

That goal saw the match pave way to a flurry of late opportunities.

Mere moments after Kamada's quick feet saw him brought down inside the box by Timothy Iroegbunam, Mitchell went close to scoring himself, his bouncing header from Daniel Muñoz's hanging delivery bouncing just wide of the far post, with Sarr also in interest.

Wharton then went close again from 25 yards with a fierce hit on his right foot, smashing against the outside of the post.

As the game ticked into injury time, Iliman Ndiaye had the chance to win the game on the break for Everton, but his rising drive was tipped over by Henderson.

Seconds later, Lacroix played a line-breaking pass to Kamada, who in turn slid it through for Mateta. The Frenchman outmuscled Tarkowski and was through, clipping it over the advancing Pickford – and also over the bar.

In the end, the point did prove enough to secure Palace's Premier League status for the following season – after West Ham lost out to Arsenal later on – but it was more the statement of a fantastic response to a midweek match which will have impressed more upon the Selhurst Park crowd.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Richards, Lacroix, Canvot, Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell, Sarr, Johnson (Lerma, 80), Strand Larsen (Mateta, 65).

Subs: Benítez (GK), Clyne, Riad, Cardines, Devenny, Hughes, Pino.

Everton: Pickford (GK), O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Iroegbunam, Garner, Röhl (George, 80), Dewsbury-Hall (Alcaraz, 90+4), Ndiaye, Beto (Barry, 70).

Subs: Travers (GK), Patterson, McNeil, Dibling, Coleman, Armstrong.

As It Happened