Selhurst Park, London – Crystal Palace and Everton played out an action-packed 2-2 draw in Premier League Round 36 on May 10th, 2026, in a contest that featured four goals, late drama, and two sides who refused to accept defeat. James Tarkowski gave Everton an early lead inside six minutes, but Ismaïla Sarr restored parity for Palace before half-time. Beto put the visitors back in front just after the restart, only for Jean-Philippe Mateta to level once again in the 77th minute. Neither side could find a winner in a tense finale, leaving Selhurst Park with a point apiece.
Match Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Competition | Premier League – Round 36 |
| Match | Crystal Palace vs Everton |
| HT Score | 1 – 1 |
| Date | May 10th, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 09:00 |
| Venue | Selhurst Park, London |
First Half: Tarkowski Opens, Sarr Responds
The match exploded into life almost immediately. In the 6th minute, Everton stunned the home crowd as James Tarkowski rose highest from a corner to power a header past the Palace goalkeeper. 1-0 to the visitors. It was the perfect start for the Toffees. Crystal Palace, enjoying 59% possession across the full match, settled into their rhythm after the early setback. The Eagles created 15 chances over the 90 minutes and gradually asserted their control on the game.
Their patience paid off in the 34th minute. Ismaïla Sarr found space inside the Everton penalty area and finished clinically to make it 1-1. Selhurst Park erupted as Palace hauled themselves back into the contest. The half-time whistle blew with the scores level a fair reflection of a first period in which Palace controlled possession but Everton carried a constant aerial threat from set pieces.
Second Half: Beto Restores Everton Lead
The second half began with another early blow for Palace. In the 47th minute, just two minutes after the restart, Beto latched onto a clever through ball and fired Everton back into the lead. 2-1 to the visitors. The Palace defense was caught flat-footed, and the striker made no mistake.
Trailing for the second time, Crystal Palace poured forward in search of another equalizer. The home side registered 7 shots on target and 7 shots off target across the match, with 5 shots blocked and 4 shots saved by the Everton goalkeeper.
The pressure finally told in the 77th minute. Jean-Philippe Mateta rose highest inside the box and directed a powerful header past the Everton keeper. 2-2. Selhurst Park exploded once again as Palace leveled for the second time.
Goal Breakdown
| Minute | Scorer | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 6′ | J. Tarkowski | Everton |
| 34′ | I. Sarr | Crystal Palace |
| 47′ | Beto | Everton |
| 77′ | J. Mateta | Crystal Palace |
Late Substitutions and Stoppage Time Drama
Both managers turned to their benches in search of a winner. In the 81st minute, Crystal Palace made a change: Everton made their own change in stoppage time. In the 90+4th minute, C. Alcaraz replaced K. Dewsbury-Hall as the visitors looked to see out the draw.
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The fourth official signaled 5 minutes of added time setting up a frantic finale. Both sides pushed forward, but clear-cut chances proved elusive. Everton, despite their defensive resilience, could not hold out for a winner, while Palace lacked the final pass to snatch a dramatic victory.
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Crystal Palace | Everton |
|---|---|---|
| Ball possession | 59% | 41% |
| Total passes | 374 | 229 |
| Offsides | 1 | 2 |
| Chances created | 15 | 8 |
| Shots on target | 7 | 2 |
| Shots off target | 7 | 6 |
| Shots blocked | 5 | 3 |
| Shots saved | 4 | 5 |
| Free kicks | 13 | 5 |
| Fouls committed | 5 | 13 |
| Tackles | 12 | 7 |
| Corners | 5 | 10 |
| Yellow cards | 0 | 2 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
Post-Match Reaction
Crystal Palace’s manager praised his team’s character:
“Twice we went behind, and twice we fought back. That tells you everything about the spirit in this dressing room. We dominated possession and created more than enough chances to win the game, but credit to Everton they made it very difficult for us. I am proud of the response.”
Everton’s manager expressed mixed emotions:
“To take the lead twice away from home against a team like Crystal Palace is no small thing. But we need to learn how to see those games out. We conceded two goals from situations we should have defended better. A point is fair, but it could have been more.”
Jean-Philippe Mateta added:
“Scoring the equalizer felt amazing. The crowd lifted us. We believed we could win it at the end, but sometimes you have to accept a point and move on.”
Looking Ahead
- Crystal Palace will take heart from their resilience. Twice behind, twice level — and with 59% possession and 15 chances created, they will feel they deserved more. Their final matches offer an opportunity to turn promising performances into victories.
- Everton will reflect on two leads surrendered. Defensive lapses at key moments cost them dearly, but the attacking threat shown by Beto and Tarkowski will encourage their manager. They must tighten up at the back to convert draws into wins.
For Crystal Palace, a hard-fought point in front of their home fans represents a solid result. For Everton, it is a case of two points dropped but also a reminder that they can compete with any side on their day.
Source: oddspedia