Jean-Philippe Mateta secured a point for Crystal Palace as they drew 2-2 with Everton to ensure they cannot be relegated.
Jean-Philippe Mateta came off the bench to salvage a point for Crystal Palace in a 2-2 draw with Everton.
Just 12 minutes after coming on for Jorgen Strand Larsen, the Frenchman took his chance to secure a point for Palace that officially secured their place in the Premier League for next season.
Everton took the lead after just six minutes through James Tarkowski, who tapped in from close range after a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall corner.
That goal gave the air that Palace were not all with it after securing their spot in the Conference League final on Thursday night.
But, Oliver Glasner named a largely unchanged side from that 2-1 victory for a reason, and it was Ismaila Sarr who got Palace back level 10 minutes before half-time.
The Senegalese forward’s deflected effort was his 20th goal in all competitions this season, having scored the winner a few days ago to become the outright top scorer in the Conference League with nine.
Everton did go back in front shortly after half-time, though, with Beto doing brilliantly to hold off Maxence Lacroix and slip the ball through the legs of a helpless Dean Henderson after Tarkowski’s long ball.
The Toffees are one of several teams in the hunt for European football this season, with eighth place still possibly bagging a spot in Europe, depending on the result of the FA Cup final next weekend.
Palace, meanwhile, are surely out of the European running, with the Conference League final their best and biggest shot at securing European football for next season.
Nonetheless, the Eagles did not give up, and Glasner made a change, bringing Mateta on for Strand Larsen after 65 minutes.
It proved to have the desired effect, as Mateta got on the end of a Tyrick Mitchell cross, which Everton made a hash of, and the ball ended up at the feet of the Frenchman, who smacked his shot into the roof of the net and over Jordan Pickford.
Glasner’s decision to play such a strong side is a sure-fire sign that Palace are not simply going to roll over, with another 17 days until the Conference League final.
They have three remaining matches in the Premier League, beginning with Manchester City on Wednesday.
The Eagles then travel to Brentford, before hosting Arsenal at Selhurst Park on the final day of the season.
With West Ham’s dramatic and controversial defeat to Arsenal, they were guaranteed their place in the Premier League for next season and Glasner may decide he is now able to fully relax ahead of the Conference League final.