Jean-Philippe Mateta Scores Twice As Crystal Palace Defeats West Ham 2-0 In Premier League Clash

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Crystal Palace secured a 2-0 victory over West Ham at London Stadium, extending their unbeaten streak in the Premier League to five matches. Jean-Philippe Mateta was the star, scoring twice against a West Ham side reduced to ten men. The win propelled Oliver Glasner's team to 12th place with 27 points from 22 games, while West Ham dropped to 14th with one point less.

Mateta's first goal came shortly after halftime when he received a pass from Eberechi Eze and shot past Lukasz Fabianski from outside the penalty area. This marked Mateta's first goal from such a distance for Crystal Palace. His second goal was a penalty in the 89th minute, following a foul on substitute Eddie Nketiah by Fabianski.

Eberechi Eze and Mateta were pivotal in Palace's success at London Stadium. Eze has now assisted Mateta eight times in the Premier League, setting a club record for most assists to a single teammate. This match marked the third consecutive game where Eze provided an assist for Glasner’s squad.

West Ham faced difficulties after Konstantinos Mavropanos received his second yellow card in the 80th minute for a high challenge on Mateta. This left them with ten players on the field, making it challenging to mount a comeback against an already dominant Palace side.

This season, Mateta has been prolific, leading Crystal Palace with eight league goals and eleven across all competitions. His performance against West Ham further solidified his position as the team's top scorer. With this brace, he has now scored four goals in his last three league appearances.

The victory not only boosted Palace's position in the league table but also highlighted their attacking capabilities, particularly through the partnership of Mateta and Eze. Their synergy continues to be crucial for Glasner’s team as they aim for higher standings in upcoming matches.

The match showcased Crystal Palace's resilience and tactical prowess, especially after capitalising on West Ham's numerical disadvantage. As they look forward to maintaining their form, both Mateta and Eze will be key figures in their quest for further success this season.