Jean-Philippe Mateta scored his first goal in over three months as Crystal Palace beat Fiorentina 3-0 in the first leg of their Uefa Conference League quarter-final, taking a commanding advantage into next week's return in Florence and moving to the brink of a first major European semi-final.
Mateta converted a 24th-minute penalty on his first start since his proposed January move to AC Milan collapsed, Tyrick Mitchell turned in a rebound seven minutes later, and Ismaila Sarr's 90th-minute header from a Daichi Kamada cross all but settled the tie at Selhurst Park.
Mateta makes a statement on his return
Coming in for the suspended Jorgen Strand Larsen and looking sharp after a midweek behind-closed-doors hat-trick, Mateta led the line with intent. He nodded narrowly wide from a Daniel Munoz cross early on before Sarr went close with a curling long-range effort.