FA Cup: Crystal Palace beat Millwall despite Mateta injury

Premier League Crystal Palace beat second-tier Millwall 3-1 to reach the FA Cup quarterfinals on Saturday but the win was marred by an injury to in-form forward Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The 27-year-old Frenchman was struck on the head by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts in the early stages at Selhurst Park and needed oxygen on the pitch before being taken to hospital, suffering from concussion.

Speaking at half-time to the BBC, Palace chairman Steve Parish said Mateta had sustained a bad gash behind his ear and a head injury.

"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."

After the match, Palace manager Oliver Glasner said that Mateta is "conscious."

"He's conscious and he's in hospital, but his ear obviously looks terrible. [It's a] very serious injury, so of course we hope all the best for him and let's see," Glasner said.

Roberts was shown a red card, following a VAR review, after coming off his line to clear a long ball and catching the on-rushing Mateta in the head with his raised studs.

An own goal by defender Japhet Tanganga in the 33rd minute and a close-range effort by Daniel Muñoz put Palace in command but 10-man Millwall hit back before halftime through Wes Harding and pushed Palace hard in the second period.

Eddie Nketiah, who had replaced Mateta, sealed Palace's progress in the 81st minute with a looping header.

"Maybe we are not really happy today. We can't be really happy," Glasner added.

"Of course, it's a great win in going into the quarterfinals, but when you lose a player, especially with a foul like this, you have two different feelings in your stomach."