Date: 18 October 2025
Venue: Selhurst Park, London
Competition: Premier League
Mateta’s Magical Night at Selhurst Park
In one of the most dramatic matches of the Premier League season so far, Jean-Philippe Mateta delivered a stunning hat-trick to help Crystal Palace fight back from two goals down to secure a 3-3 draw against Bournemouth.
The French striker, who has been in blistering form since making his France national team debut earlier this month, equalised twice and then netted a 97th-minute penalty to complete his treble and rescue a point for the Eagles.
Despite missing a golden chance to win the game deep into stoppage time, Mateta’s performance was nothing short of heroic, bringing his tally to seven goals this season.
Bournemouth’s Early Dominance and Kroupi’s Dream Debut
Teenage forward Eli Kroupi, just 19 years old, enjoyed a dream Premier League debut by scoring twice in the first half to put Bournemouth in control.
His first came after a chaotic set piece — Justin Kluivert’s corner ricocheted off Maxence Lacroix and dropped perfectly for Kroupi to head home. Minutes later, Antoine Semenyo outpaced Chris Richards on the flank, delivering a cross that Guehi failed to clear, leaving Kroupi to smash in his second.
The Cherries appeared on course for a famous win that would have temporarily sent them top of the Premier League table, a remarkable feat for Andoni Iraola’s side.
Mateta’s Fightback and Late-Game Chaos
Crystal Palace looked a different side after halftime. Daniel Muñoz provided two vital assists for Mateta, who scored twice in five minutes to level the match at 2-2.
However, Bournemouth regained the lead through Ryan Christie in the 89th minute after a clever pass from Marcus Tavernier. Just as the away fans began celebrating victory, Marc Guehi was pulled down in the box by Bafode Diakité, and VAR confirmed the penalty.
Mateta stepped up calmly, firing into the top corner to make it 3-3 in the 97th minute. The Frenchman even had a chance to win it two minutes later but sent his shot over the bar in a breathless finale.
Manager Reactions
Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace Manager):
Glasner praised Mateta’s composure but criticised his team’s defensive lapses:
“Mateta could have scored five tonight. Offensively, he was unstoppable, but our defending must be much sharper.”
He also confirmed that captain Marc Guehi has decided not to renew his contract, with top clubs like Newcastle and Liverpool monitoring the situation closely.
Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth Manager):
Iraola was visibly frustrated with the late penalty call:
“I’m angry and upset. We were so close to a statement victory, but one decision changed everything. Still, I’m proud of how my players fought.”
Bournemouth’s Bright Future Under Iraola
Despite the setback, Iraola’s Bournemouth continue to impress. The Cherries have risen from relegation contenders to potential European football challengers. Losing key players such as Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez, and Dango Ouattara hasn’t halted their momentum.
Their attacking style and high pressing have turned them into one of the Premier League’s most exciting sides. With Kroupi emerging as a potential star, Bournemouth’s future looks promising.
Palace’s Upcoming Fixtures
Crystal Palace’s busy schedule continues:
- vs AEK Larnaca (Conference League) – 23 October, first-ever European home match for the Eagles
- @ Arsenal (Premier League) – 26 October
- @ Liverpool (Carabao Cup, Round of 16) – 29 October
Bournemouth, meanwhile, have a week to regroup before hosting Nottingham Forest on 26 October, following Forest’s decision to sack Ange Postecoglou after a 3-0 loss to Chelsea.
Player of the Match: Jean-Philippe Mateta
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Goals | 3 |
| Shots | 6 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Rating | ⭐ 8.77 |
Mateta’s hat-trick not only rescued a point but underlined his growing status as one of the Premier League’s most in-form forwards.
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