Mateta hat-trick rescues Palace a point in thriller
Jean-Philippe Mateta scored a second-half hat-trick, including a 97th-minute leveller from the penalty spot to help Crystal Palace snatch a point in an enthralling 3-3 draw with Bournemouth.
Mateta stole the headlines with a superb hat-trick, and became the first player in the Premier League to achieve the feat this season.
Ryan Christie's late goal looked to have sent Andoni Iraola's side to the Premier League summit, but after Marc Guehi was fouled by Bafode Diakite inside the box, Mateta kept his cool from 12 yards to seal a share of the spoils.
Bournemouth was ahead in the seventh minute when Mateta inadvertently glanced Justin Kluivert's corner to the back post for Eli Kroupi to nod home on his first start in the top-flight.
Palace still offered a threat and should have drawn level when Mateta headed narrowly wide from Yeremy Pino's teasing delivery, and the Cherries made the most of that reprieve seven minutes before the break.
Antoine Semenyo's driving run ended with a cross into the box that was half cleared by Guehi, with the ball landing at the feet of Kroupi, who finished first time, despite the best efforts of Palace keeper Dean Henderson.
Marcos Senesi then survived a scare early in the second half after his yellow card for a foul on Ismaila Sarr was subject to a video assistant referee (VAR) review for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity, but the on-field decision stood.
Palace reduced the deficit when Mateta planted Daniel Munoz's cross home in the 64th minute, with the forward doubling his tally five minutes later with a sliding finish at the back post.
But the Cherries roared back and thought they had won it when Marcus Tavernier's cross was tucked home by Christie, but after a clumsy foul on Guehi inside the box by Diakite, Mateta made no mistake to complete his hat-trick and a remarkable turnaround.
Palace's late heroics also mean it is now unbeaten in 10 Premier League home games, with five wins and five draws, only once going longer on home soil without a top-flight defeat – 17 without a loss from February to December 1990.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner commended his side's fighting spirit at Selhurst Park.
"I know how our games are going, our last game against Liverpool and our away game to Everton was the same. It's that last goal in the extra-time," the Austrian said.
"I am so proud of the performance, not the result. How we played and how many chances we created.
"We were ruthless, and every chance was a goal.
"The mentality of the team and the problems we caused. There has not been many teams that has caused Palace so many problems. It was an incredible display.
"I don't think they were that much better in the first half. When we go in details, I think it was an even game. They were ruthless, and we said we would stick with the plan, and we did."
Bournemouth manager Adoni Iraola was left unhappy with the decision to award Palace the late penalty.
"I cannot be happy. I am upset, and I am angry because of their goal in the 96th minute. I cannot accept it," he said.
"Not to win it because someone called a penalty, and I think the VAR was influenced by the previous decision. That is the only explanation I can find.
"They were punishing us, and it was a difficult moment when they scored to make it 2-2, but then we got it back and showed some character. To concede like this is difficult."
