Mateta hat-trick denies Bournemouth top spot in stoppage time

Jean-Philippe Mateta struck a dramatic stoppage-time penalty to complete his hat-trick and deny Bournemouth a memorable moment at the top of the Premier League table in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Selhurst Park.

Andoni Iraola’s side had looked set to go top after teenage forward Eli Junior Kroupi scored twice and substitute Ryan Christie restored their lead late on, but Mateta’s cool finish from the spot salvaged a point for Crystal Palace.

The result kept Bournemouth’s remarkable early-season run intact, though they were left frustrated after being moments away from a fifth league win and a statement result in South London.

Bournemouth made the perfect start as 19-year-old Kroupi, making his first league start since joining from Lorient, opened the scoring inside seven minutes.

The youngster reacted quickest after Antoine Semenyo’s flick-on from a corner caused chaos in the Palace box, nodding in from close range to give the visitors an ideal platform.

Semenyo continued to torment Palace’s backline and was instrumental again for Bournemouth’s second goal.

The Ghanaian winger sprinted down the left, brushed off Chris Richards and delivered a teasing cross that Marc Guehi could only divert into Kroupi’s path, allowing the teenager to lash home his second before half-time.

At that point, Bournemouth’s high press and relentless energy had Palace rattled, but Oliver Glasner’s men fought back impressively after the break.

Ismaila Sarr and Daniel Munoz led the charge, and the hosts eventually pulled one back when Mateta turned in Munoz’s low cross following a swift move.

The French striker, who scored on his international debut for France in midweek, doubled his tally minutes later with a clever finish from a tight angle to bring Palace level at 2-2, sending Selhurst Park into raptures.

Bournemouth appeared to have snatched all three points when Christie converted Marcus Tavernier’s cross two minutes from time, sparking wild celebrations on the touchline.

Yet, in stoppage time, Palace were awarded a penalty after Bafode Diakite was penalised for a foul on Guehi, and Mateta stepped up to dispatch his third goal of the game.

The draw means Bournemouth missed the chance to end the weekend top of the table, though Iraola’s side continue to defy expectations after a summer in which they lost several key players.

Palace, meanwhile, showed their growing resilience under Glasner, remaining comfortably in the top half thanks to Mateta’s late heroics.