Crystal Palace edged into the FA Cup quarter-finals after a 3-1 win towards native rivals Millwall, however the victory was tainted after Jean-Philippe Mateta was stretchered off.
The incident got here inside six minutes. Mateta challenged for a excessive ball simply exterior the realm when Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts got here out of his field, catching the Palace striker’s head along with his excessive boot.
After a examine of the pitchside monitor, referee Michael Oliver despatched Roberts off, with Mateta receiving virtually 10 minutes of medical consideration on the sphere earlier than being taken off. He was taken straight to hospital.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish described it as ‘probably the most reckless problem on a soccer pitch I’ve ever seen’ when speaking to the BBC at half-time.
Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta lies injured following a excessive boot from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts
The Eagles started to rack up the probabilities with the extra participant, and made the breakthrough within the thirty third minute – though not from one among their very own. Millwall defender Japhet Tanganga nodded dwelling from Will Hughes’ cross, beating substitute goalkeeper Lukas Jensen.
Seven minutes later, Crystal Palace doubled their lead and Tanganga had one other hand. Daniel Munoz turned dwelling from contained in the six yard field, however the purpose was initially dominated out for offside.
Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz celebrates scoring their aspect’s second purpose of the sport
This was overturned by Oliver, and VAR confirmed the purpose would stand after the ball got here off Tanganga earlier than Munoz turned dwelling – that means he was not offside.
However with the ultimate kick of the primary half, Millwall gave themselves a lifeline. Matt Turner initially pushed away a cross, nevertheless it landed to the incoming Wes Harding, who fired dwelling.
And the Lions started the second half effectively, and can really feel that they need to have equalised. However as soon as Crystal Palace settled, it was clear they’d see the sport out, and added the security of a 3rd purpose within the 81st minute.
Eddie Nketiah celebrates his purpose towards Millwall
It was a deserved purpose for Eddie Nketiah, who changed Mateta. Eberechi Eze’s free kick was nodded on by Chris Richards, earlier than the previous Arsenal striker looped a header dwelling to safe Crystal Palace’s spot in Sunday’s draw.
Parish: I’ve by no means seen a problem prefer it
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish to BBC Sport at half-time on Jean-Philippe Mateta’s damage:
“He is acquired a foul gash behind his ear and a head damage. He is on the hospital and we hope for the perfect.
“There’s a whole lot of emotion in soccer however we have to discuss that problem. I’ve by no means seen a problem prefer it… that is probably the most reckless problem on a soccer pitch I’ve ever seen.
Gamers from either side look on as Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta receives remedy
“He must have an extended, exhausting have a look at himself as a result of he is endangering a fellow skilled with a problem like that.
“And why the referee must go to the display screen, I do not know… When you’re kicking him within the head at full drive, who is aware of what sort of harm may very well be completed.”
Glasner: It is a horrible foul
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner to BBC Sport on Jean-Philippe Mateta:
“He is acutely aware and he is in hospital. His ear seems to be horrible. It is a very severe damage and we hope the perfect for him.
“We will not be actually completely happy. In fact it is an awesome win and into the quarter-finals, however whenever you lose a participant with a foul like this, you might have two completely different emotions in your abdomen.
“I did not need to see it, however I’ve to speak about it. It is horrible [the challenge]. I am positive that the goalkeeper did not need to injure JP on this state of affairs as a result of no participant desires this.
“However in the event you go the ball like this with the depth within the head, you simply cannot do it as a result of it is so harmful. I do not need to blame him, nevertheless it’s a horrible foul.”
On the response from his gamers and the sport: “The gamers did effectively till the fifty fifth minute within the first half. We managed the sport and we had been on observe. Then we unnecessarily present the ball earlier than half time after which it is 2-1 after which they picked up their perception.
“The second half wasn’t actually the perfect recreation, however Eddie determined it with a tremendous header. Going to the FA Cup quarter-finals is a superb achievement and now fingers crossed, we’re hoping the perfect for JP.”
Neil disagrees with Parish: Not the worst problem I’ve ever seen
Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts acquired a purple card for a excessive problem on Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta
Millwall boss Alex Neil to BBC Sport when requested about Steve Parish’s half-time feedback on Liam Roberts’ problem:
“I do not assume there’s any intent. Why would there have been? It is the beginning of the sport, the ball will get put in behind and he tries to get there.
“I actually would not label it because the worst problem I’ve seen. We do not need the lad to be injured so naturally, we want Mateta effectively and hope he is again on the pitch quickly.
“For me, it is mistimed, he is been despatched off, he is disillusioned. We want Mateta effectively and it is nothing greater than that for me.
“On the time when it occurred, I did not know if he’d caught the lad or caught the ball as a result of the ball appeared to go off in an odd angle.
“Sadly, [the screens] together with the dugout weren’t working so we could not actually watch the incident again.
“I have never seen it again since however he is mistimed it and acquired despatched off, which at that stage of the sport, makes the sport doubly troublesome for us. It was disappointing. He is made a name and hasn’t fairly acquired it proper.”
On the objectives conceded: “The character of the objectives disappoints me probably the most. One is an personal purpose, one other is after we kick the ball off our personal participant and it lands to the lad within the field and he scores. Then we lose two headers in a row. If you’re all the way down to 10 males, you need to make them work for his or her objectives.
“We gave ourselves a little bit little bit of a lifeline by getting the purpose earlier than half-time. The plan then was to remain within the recreation so long as we will and hopefully get one other purpose. I used to be about to go two up high they usually rating simply as we had been about to make a sub, which summed the day up for us actually.”
