Crystal Palace have secured a dramatic passage into the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals, thanks to a brace from Ismaila Sarr that sealed a 2-1 victory over nine-man AEK Larnaca in extra time. The result settled the tie with an aggregate score of 2-1, setting up a last-eight clash with Italian side Fiorentina.
Senegal Star Shines in Cyprus
The Senegal international opened the scoring in the 13th minute at the home of the second-placed Cypriot First Division side, where Palace displayed significantly more attacking intent than in last week's lacklustre Selhurst Park draw. Sarr's first goal was crafted through some excellent teamwork, with Jorgen Strand Larsen battling under pressure to retain possession before flicking to Adam Wharton. Wharton then expertly teed up the opener with a deflected pass that fell perfectly for Sarr, who rounded goalkeeper Zlatan Alomerovic before slotting home a low finish.
Hosts Fight Back Before Collapsing
AEK Larnaca equalised in the 63rd minute when Enric Saborit powered home a header from a Marcus Rohden corner, capitalising on poor Palace defending to beat goalkeeper Walter Benitez. However, Saborit's joy was short-lived as he was sent off just ten minutes later for tugging down Sarr, reducing the hosts to ten men with 17 minutes remaining in normal time.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner introduced additional firepower by bringing on Jean-Philippe Mateta with seven minutes left in regulation time, but the sides remained level after Alomerovic punched away a late Yeremy Pino corner. The match proceeded to extra time, where Sarr finally broke the deadlock in the ninth minute of the first period from a cleverly worked corner.
Chaotic Conclusion Seals Palace Progress
The winning goal came from a short corner played by Wharton to Daichi Kamada, who delivered a low cross for Sarr to sweep home. Sarr then came agonisingly close to completing a hat-trick, clipping the crossbar twice before the final whistle. The hosts played out the closing minutes with just nine men after Petros Ioannou was dismissed for a dangerous challenge on Mateta following a VAR review.
The contest ended in chaotic fashion as VAR intervened to reverse the referee's decision to award Larnaca a penalty, correctly ruling out a possible Mateta handball after replays showed the ball had struck the Frenchman's thigh. Sarr had a golden opportunity to make it 3-1 when Alomerovic came forward for a late set piece, but he could only strike the right upright of the empty Larnaca goal.
Walter Benitez returned to the Palace goal with captain Dean Henderson still unavailable due to illness, while January club record signing Jorgen Strand Larsen made his first appearance alongside Mateta. Palace's victory was built on rediscovered resolve, with Alomerovic making a crucial double save to deny Wharton and then Munoz earlier in the match.
