Mateta: We deserved better than the draw
After scoring his first goal since the UEFA Conference League Final – on his first start since the opening day of the season – Jean-Philippe Mateta only wished it had resulted in three points for Crystal Palace.
The Frenchman had already put the ball in the back of the net once in Istanbul – ruled out by VAR – before Beşiktaş, coming into the game off the back of eight straight home victories in all competitions, took the lead against the run of play just before half-time.
But mere moments after Yéremy Pino turned home from close range, Mateta pounced on a loose backpass and rifled in Palace’s second on the night – which looked set to see them record an impressive win in Turkey.
Sadly, Junior Olaitan’s late impressive effort earned Beşiktaş a share of the spoils, with Mateta admitting: “I feel always good [when I score], but it's better when we win in the end.
“I think today we did everything to win the game, and in the end when you let them have chances, they are a very good team, they scored today.
“But I think we deserved better, we played hard today and we showed a good face today, and it's a draw, we take that point.
“The aggression was back, the team today was so strong, and like I said, we let them have two chances and they scored.”
Mateta reserved a word of praise for the Palace fans, who have now made three consecutive away trips ahead of a return to Selhurst Park this weekend to face Newcastle.
“You can see even today I was always sharing with them,” Mateta told Palace TV.
“They are very important for us, and I hope they will keep travelling with us, and I'm sure they will win a lot of games with us.
“We will work on the good things we do today, and I know this weekend will be a fantastic game.”