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Crystal Palace 2-2 Leicester: Mateta off the mark for disjointed Eagles

Jean-Philippe Mateta strokes home a penalty in Crystal Palace's 2-2 draw with Leicester City at Selhurst Park
[Getty Images]

Jean-Philippe Mateta ended the 2023-24 campaign with 13 goals in 13 league games under Oliver Glasner, but the Frenchman had failed to open his Premier League account for the new season going into Saturday's meeting with Leicester.

After giving his team hope with a close-range finish early in the second half, Mateta's stoppage-time penalty rescued a point for Palace after Conor Coady had brought down Ismaila Sarr.

While Glasner will be thrilled with the striker's contribution, he will have been less impressed with some of Palace's defending against Steve Cooper's team, who could and maybe should have been more ruthless in taking advantage.

Stephy Mavididi should have done better in the aftermath of Marc Guehi's failed clearance in the first half, but a similar error from Palace debutant Maxence Lacroix gifted the Foxes a second goal seconds after the restart.

Eddie Nketiah, who was also making his first appearance for the Eagles after joining from Arsenal on deadline day, was a lively presence and almost opened his account for the club with the score at 2-1, his low shot flying narrowly past the far post.

Mateta will grab the headlines on this occasion, but Nketiah's time will come.

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[BBC]