EPL: Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace, 3-3 Thriller Ends in Style
Jean-Philippe Mateta's second-half hat-trick earns Crystal Palace a thrilling 3-3 draw against Bournemouth in a six-goal Premier League encounter.
In an astonishing turn of events, Mateta completed his hat-trick in stoppage time...
Jean-Philippe Mateta's stunning second-half hat-trick salvaged a point for Crystal Palace, as they fought back from 2-0 down to draw 3-3 with Bournemouth in a thrilling Premier League match. Mateta's equalizing goal in stoppage time capped off an extraordinary comeback.
Despite their impressive form, Crystal Palace's strong start to the season didn't translate to the first half of this match. They had led in five of their seven games and hadn't conceded before halftime, but Bournemouth's early goals left them chasing the game. Eli Junior Kroupi's brace on his Premier League debut gave Bournemouth a 2-0 lead within seven minutes of the break.
Eli Junior Kroupi capitalized on a defensive mix-up to score the opening goal, tapping the ball over the line after Mateta's header from a corner kick was aimed goalbound. The first half was an action-packed affair, with Mateta looking to redeem himself after his error, only to head a Yeremy Pino cross narrowly wide.
Crystal Palace's lack of clinical finish ultimately caught up with them as Kroupi struck again on his full league debut. A misjudged clearance from Marc Guehi allowed Kroupi to seize the opportunity, steering the ball home to give his side a two-goal advantage.
Just before halftime, Mateta had a goal-bound effort blocked from close range, leaving Crystal Palace facing an uphill task in the second half. The French striker had marked his senior debut with a goal in the international break, but it wasn't to come on this night.
A VAR review appeared to favor Palace's cause soon after the restart, but referee Jarred Gillett stood firm, awarding Marcos Senesi a yellow card for a sliding challenge on Ismaila Sarr. The decision denied Palace a potential lifeline as Sarr had been threatening to break through on goal.
The Eagles showed remarkable resilience, and in a span of five minutes, they leveled the score. Initially, the goal was ruled out due to an offside in the build-up, but after a VAR review, Mateta's strike was awarded. He expertly converted Daniel Munoz's low cross into the goal.
Mateta's clinical finish brought Palace level, and the momentum shifted in their favor. The French striker's first home league goal of the season sparked a resurgence in his team's fortunes.
The dynamic duo struck again in the 69th minute, as Mateta slid in at the back post to score his second goal of the match, courtesy of a precise pass from his teammate. The atmosphere at Selhurst Park was electric, with the Eagles dominating possession and pushing for another goal. However, Eddie Nketiah's effort was narrowly ruled offside, keeping the scoreline intact.
A match for the ages. pic.twitter.com/QOwueDrGFI
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 18, 2025
The intense match continued to its thrilling conclusion, with Bournemouth suddenly restoring their lead in the 89th minute. Christie arrived in the box to score only his fourth Premier League goal, tapping home a cut-back from Ben Gannon-Doak and sending the visitors' fans into raptures.
In an astonishing turn of events, Mateta completed his hat-trick in stoppage time, converting a penalty kick after Bafode Diakite fouled Marc Guehi in the box. However, fate had other plans, as Mateta then shockingly headed the ball over the bar in the dying seconds, denying Palace a dramatic win. The draw was a testament to Palace's remarkable second-half performance.
The result extended Bournemouth's unbeaten run to seven league games (W4, D3), lifting them to fourth place. However, they missed the opportunity to temporarily top the Premier League standings, having to settle for a point.
A bittersweet hat-trick for Jean-Philippe Mateta... pic.twitter.com/WCUITzPuHG
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 18, 2025
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