Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta was at the receiving end of a horror challenge from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts in their FA Cup encounter and was rushed to the hospital. It happened in the 8th minute of the match when Roberts came off his line to clear a ball but caught the forward on his head with his studs.
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The keeper was shown a red card following a VAR review while Mateta was given oxygen on the pitch during a lengthy stoppage before being taken off and put into an ambulance.
Frenchman Mateta, who has been in superb form for Premier League side Palace with 15 goals from 33 appearances, was replaced by Eddie Nketiah.
This ‘tackle’ on Mateta. Jesus Christ
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Speaking at halftime to the BBC, Palace chairman Steve Parish said Mateta had sustained a bad gash behind his ear and a head injury and was being assessed in hospital.
“Obviously, he’s at the hospital, so we hope for the best. I mean there’s a lot of emotion in football but we need to talk about that challenge. In all the time I’ve watched football, I’ve never seen a challenge like it.
“It is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I’ve ever seen.” Palace were leading second-tier Millwall 2-1 at halftime.
On Friday, a clinical second half double from Marco Asensio took Aston Villa into the FA Cup quarterfinals for the first time in a decade after beating plucky Cardiff City 2-0 on.
Cardiff’s last win at Villa Park was in 1954 and the visitor never looked like ending that long drought. The home side was on top from the start and Cardiff goalkeeper Ethan Horvath was one of the busiest men on the park.
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However, the Welsh club defended stoutly and it took Villa until the middle of the second half to finally get the goal its superiority deserved.
(With agency inputs)
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