Crystal Palace fought back twice to snatch a 2-2 draw against Everton at Selhurst Park, keeping their Conference League final preparations on track while dealing a blow to the Toffees’ European hopes.
Everton entered the match seeking a third straight win at one of their favorite away grounds, having lost only once in 22 Premier League meetings between the sides. They got off to a flying start after five minutes when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s powerful corner was flicked on by Michael Keane to James Tarkowski, who tapped in at the far post.
Despite the ideal start for the visitors, caution was warranted given Palace had overturned early deficits in the last two meetings in London. The home side quickly found their rhythm, with both goalkeepers forced into reflex saves within 26 seconds, the best denying Dewsbury-Hall from close range.
Palace made Everton pay for their missed chances just past the half-hour mark. A slick combination between Ismaïla Sarr and Daniel Muñoz saw the ball ricochet off Keane’s leg, allowing Sarr to volley past Jordan Pickford for his first league goal since March.
The Senegal winger also shone defensively, clearing a header from Iliman Ndiaye off the line just before halftime. But Everton regained the lead within two minutes of the restart through Beto, who latched onto Tarkowski’s long ball, twice shrugged off Maxence Lacroix, and slotted past Dean Henderson.
Dewsbury-Hall found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper just before the hour but was denied by a combination of Henderson and two defenders. The fear of another déjà vu moment for Everton fans nearly materialized in the 65th minute when Sarr’s looping header forced Pickford into a sharp save at the near post.
Substitute Thierno Barry, fresh off scoring twice against Manchester City on Monday, entered for Beto, but it was Palace who struck next. Jean-Philippe Mateta capitalized on a Tyrick Mitchell cross that no one cleared, scoring with ease for his second consecutive goal in this fixture after the February 2025 draw.
Everton became the first Premier League team to concede a goal that changes the result in added time of three straight matches last Monday, so Palace had reason to believe in the final minutes. Sarr came close to connecting at the near post, and Adam Wharton rattled the post in the 90th minute.
After late efforts from Ndiaye and Mateta at both ends, the draw was a fair outcome. Palace extended their unbeaten home run to nine matches since February, while Everton’s troubles in London continued, recording one win, two draws, and three losses in the capital this season. As consolation, the Toffees need just one point from their final two games to reach 50 points for the first time in five years.