Crystal Palace 3-0 Fiorentina result – Mateta, Mitchell and Sarr give Eagles commanding lead in UEFA Conference League quarter-finals

Crystal Palace produced a superb home performance to claim a 3-0 first-leg victory over Serie A side Fiorentina at Selhurst Park.

Goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta, Tyrick Mitchell and Ismaila Sarr gave Palace a commanding lead after an impressive home display in front of a raucous crowd in London.

With Jorgen Strand Larsen ruled out for the game, head coach Oliver Glasner drafted in Jean-Philippe Mateta, and the big French striker notched his first goal since January 1 when he scored from the spot after Dodo's clumsy challenge on Evann Guessand gifted the hosts a 24th-minute penalty.

Mateta's calm finish was followed by his trademark "boom" celebration as the Palace fans showed their support for the striker, who had previously been thought to be heading out of the club in the January transfer window.

Palace doubled their lead just eight minutes later, when Mateta's short-range effort was well saved by David de Gea and the rebound fell for Tyrick Mitchell, who finished well.

Fiorentina rallied in the second half but weren't able to create enough clear-cut chances to get back into the game. Palace recovered, however, and in the 90th minute they made their lead even more emphatic when Sarr rose to head home a delicious cross from Daichi Kamada.

It means that Palace will head into the second leg in Florence with a significant advantage as they look to finish the season on a high.

"The first step is made. But we have to make the second in Florence next week," said Glasner.

"(Fiorentina) had maybe 15 minutes with the momentum on their side, but we didn't get frustrated," he said.

"We kept our heads up and knew that we could turn the momentum again. And so that's what we did. And in the end, I think we were close to scoring a fourth goal. And so, yeah, that was a great performance."

"It's a great occasion. I'm just happy," said scorer of Palace's second, Tyrick Mitchell.

"Happy to score on such a great night as the quarter-finals of a European competition. So I'm just happy to be here.

"We know how strong we are at home. We know that we can score goals. So, scoring three is amazing, and hopefully we continue it in Italy."

"Yeah, what a night!" said the big Frenchman.

"Even me, a long time I didn't play, I didn't start. I'm very happy, and I'm very happy my guy (Mitchell) scored, as well.

Mateta's return to the scoresheet meant a return for his signature "Boom" goal celebration, and he admitted he'd missed performing his famed corner-flag kick for the fans.

"Yeah, I dream about that for nights, you know? And I did, and I'm so happy."

TNT Sports commentator Sam Matterface on Ismaila Sarr's superb header to make it 3-0.

Two late chances from Palace almost make their lead even more commanding.

First Dodo has to make a goal-line clearance to deny Pino, then Pino and Sarr come close to poking home a brilliant cross from Munoz.

Somehow, the scoreline stays 3-0, and the Palace fans will be more than happy with that, as the final whistle blows at a euphoric Selhurst Park.

There will be FOUR ADDED MINUTES at the end of this game.

Palace's superb home performance gets the exclamation point the home fans were hoping for, thanks to a thumping header from Ismaila Sarr.

The cross from Kamada is a peach, and Sarr leaps highest to plant a header down into the turf, and the ball flies up and into the roof of the net.

It's a classic striker's header at the back post, and it means Palace are 3-0 up!

Two Palace subs combine to very nearly put the hosts three goals clear, but a brilliant sliding block denies Lerma after a brilliant run from Pino.

That would have been the final nail in the coffin for Fiorentina, surely...

This is a super-important last five minutes for both teams. A goal for Fiorentina will give them real optimism that they can turn this tie around at home in the second leg.

But if Palace can hold on, they can feel pretty confident that they can make it through to the final four of the competition.

And if they can add a third... well, that would surely be beyond the Palace fans' dreams.

Palace should be 3-0 up.

A lovely through ball from Pino sends Sarr down the right channel. He's too wide to shoot, so he goes to the by-line and crosses perfectly for Mateta, who inexplicably heads wide with the goal at his mercy.

It's a big miss for Palace, could who could have put Fiorentina to bed with a third goal.

The game is still very open, so there's a very good possibility that more chances are still to come in the final 10 minutes.

Palace have picked up the pace a little over the last 10 minutes, and it's that man Munoz creating havoc on the right wing once again.

His cross is met by Sarr, whose looping header drops wide of the back post.