Everton forward Beto admitted this afternoon’s 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace was a missed opportunity for the Toffees in their pursuit of European football.
The visitors led twice at Selhurst Park thanks to goals from James Tarkowski and Beto but the Conference League finalists salvaged a point through Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Everton remain 10th and in the hunt for a Europa League spot but wins for Bournemouth and Brighton this weekend means their hopes of a top-seven finish have diminished.
“It is a little bit disappointing to get one point – but the game was really difficult,” said Guinea-Bissau international Beto to Sky Sports. “They had a really good system. They have good players and a good manager. It is always difficult to come down here to play. We are still fighting. We need to keep going and try to win the next two games.
“You can say it was a missed opportunity but we are still in it, so we just need to focus on the next game.”
Everton boss Davis Moyes added: “We did okay. We gave up some chances – the game could have been 4-4 or 5-5 at one point. We are trying to win at the moment but we missed some big chances to make it 2-0. They did as well – but we had a chance to go 2-0 and we didn’t take it. Maybe if we had got that after midweek it might have been a different game. Credit to Crystal Palace, they stuck in.
“It’s amazing that we are actually talking about Everton possibly being in Europe with two games to go – and we’re not out of it yet. It’s getting tougher every game we’re not winning.”
Mateta annoyed that Palace could not find the winner
Palace are 14th with their league campaign now secondary to Europe and the final against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig on May 27.
Boss Oliver Glasner made just two changes to the side that beat Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday night but they looked a little leggy until Mateta came off the bench to provide a bit of energy.
Palace could have won it late on with Adam Wharton’s shot hitting the post while both sides missed decent opportunities.
Mateta said: “I’m still annoyed about the chances, but it’s okay we came back two times and I think we deserved that point. We wanted to win today, and we nearly did. We were one point away and never gave up, that’s why I’m happy to be with this team.”
