Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has celebrated a significant European milestone after his team secured a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time victory over AEK Larnaca in the Conference League round of sixteen. The win, sealed by a crucial goal from Ismaila Sarr, books a quarter-final clash against Italian side Fiorentina and marks another step in the Eagles' continental journey.
Match Highlights and Key Moments
The encounter in Cyprus proved to be a tense and dramatic affair, with Palace having drawn the first leg at Selhurst Park 0-0. Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring for the visitors in the 13th minute, giving the south London side an early advantage. However, AEK Larnaca defender Enric Saborit equalised in the 63rd minute, setting the stage for a nervy conclusion to regular time.
Saborit's involvement took a turn for the worse when he received a second yellow card just ten minutes after his goal, reducing the home side to ten men. The match proceeded to extra time, where Sarr once again proved decisive, putting Palace ahead 2-1 just nine minutes into the additional period. The Senegalese winger came agonisingly close to completing a hat-trick, striking the crossbar on two separate occasions.
Manager's Reaction and Team Outlook
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Oliver Glasner expressed his delight at the result. "It's a huge achievement," Glasner stated. "We are looking forward and it is now to really make the best with the three weeks, because our next competitive game is against Fiorentina at Selhurst Park."
The Austrian manager outlined the team's plans during the upcoming break, noting that many players will join their national teams. "We will have a few days off and then many of our players go to their national team and then we will prepare," he explained. "We will play a friendly to stay in the rhythm. It's good. I expect (forward) Eddie Nketiah back, so everybody will help us, because then it will be a very tight schedule until the end of the season, and hopefully our European journey continues."
Sarr's Impact and Importance to the Squad
Ismaila Sarr, who joined Crystal Palace from Marseille in August 2024 for a reported fee of £12.6 million, has consistently delivered in crucial moments. His performance against AEK Larnaca was his fifth Conference League goal of the campaign, underscoring his value to the team.
The winger has developed a reputation for scoring when Palace need him most. Last season, his second-half brace against Aston Villa helped propel the Eagles into the FA Cup final at Wembley, where they secured their first major trophy and earned qualification for European competition. Sarr also played a pivotal role in the Community Shield victory over Liverpool, scoring an equaliser and converting a penalty in the shootout.
Midfielder Adam Wharton praised Sarr's contributions, telling TNT Sports: "(Sarr) has been doing well in the Premier League as well. He's been scoring a lot of goals, getting a lot of assists, and he's so quick. Especially against these teams, if you get that little bit of space in behind because they are so compact, it works wonders having him, so we're really happy to have him."
Squad Challenges and Suspension Concerns
The victory was not without its challenges for Crystal Palace. Striker Jorgen Strand Larsen is set to miss the first leg of the quarter-final against Fiorentina due to suspension. The Norwegian received a yellow card late in the second half against AEK Larnaca, adding to cautions he picked up in both legs of the knockout phase play-off against Zrinjski Mostar.
Furthermore, the three-week break until the next European fixture will provide a welcome opportunity for striker Jean-Philippe Mateta to continue his recovery. The French forward is still regaining full match fitness after returning from a six-week absence due to a knee injury, making a late substitute appearance in the first leg against Larnaca. On Thursday night, Mateta shared the pitch with Strand Larsen for the first time, coming on with seven minutes remaining in the second half. Notably, Mateta will not join the France national team during the upcoming international window.
As Crystal Palace prepare for their quarter-final encounter with Fiorentina, the team will look to build on this dramatic victory and continue their impressive European campaign under the guidance of Oliver Glasner.
