Everton’s hopes of qualifying for Europe were dealt a huge blow after Jean-Philippe Mateta came off the bench to rescue Crystal Palace a point in a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park.
Oliver Glasner’s side were on a high after booking their place in the Conference League final on Thursday and were determined not to allow the mood in south London to sour despite falling behind twice.
Beto scored what for much of the second half looked like being the winner for Everton, a wonderful individual effort combining power and deftness of touch with the ball at his feet to finish beyond Dean Henderson.
Victory would have moved the visitors onto 51 points, level with Brentford in eighth and two points off the last guaranteed European qualification berth.
Beto’s goal came after a hugely open first half had finished level, James Tarkowski tapping David Moyes’ side into the lead from an early corner before Ismaila Sarr thumped Palace level following a botched attempt by Michael Keane to clear.
Everton, though, could not hold on. Palace’s pressure increased, and in the 76th minute Mateta was on the spot to finish from Tyrick Mitchell’s pass to keep spirits high ahead of their date with Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig on 27 May .
Everton had gone ahead after only six minutes. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sent over a corner and the ball was inadvertently helped by a Palace defender on its journey to the far post where Tarkowski was waiting unmarked to knock it home on the volley.
A frantic 30 seconds saw Jordan Pickford save brilliantly from Maxence Lacroix then, following a rapid break, Henderson spread himself to deny Dewsbury-Hall. It was fine work from both England goalkeepers in front of the watching Thomas Tuchel.
Palace were growing into the match and they deservedly equalised 10 minutes before half-time. Keane’s clearance was poor, achieving neither distance nor height, and Sarr took full advantage to thump the loose ball past Pickford.
Iliman Ndiaye had a golden chance to restore Everton’s lead in the final minute of the half but his header inside the six-yard box lacked power and was shovelled off the line by Sarr.
Visiting fans would not be made to wait long to celebrate. The second half was less than 90 seconds old when Beto raced onto Tarkowski’s ball over the top and showed wonderful strength and skill to hold off Lacroix, muscling his way into the six-yard box beyond the Palace defender before finishing calmly.
Henderson was called upon to save athletically and keep James Garner’s free-kick from extending Everton’s lead.
Pickford was then forced to bat away Daichi Kamada’s searching pass into the box as it narrowly evaded Sarr’s attempt to prod it in.
Palace kept up their pressure, though, and 14 minutes from the end Mateta was in the right place to sweep Mitchell’s cutback into the roof of the net from eight yards.
Adam Wharton struck a post in stoppage time with a bullet effort from outside the box, before Mateta botched a glorious opening when clean through. A goal then would have been hard on Everton.
PA
