Proper once they wanted them, Crystal Palace’s gamers stepped up as Oliver Glasner’s aspect stored their European dream alive on an enormous evening at Selhurst Park.
Maxence Lacroix’s first-half header seemed to have been decisive for Palace, however after some nervy moments, Evann Guessand confirmed the victory in injury-time to knock out their plucky Bosnian opponents Zrinjski Mostar.
‘It was an excellent and essential win,’ Glasner stated post-match. ‘We discovered the teachings from the away leg, managed the sport and waited for the moments.
‘Not all the things is ideal, however we will see the gamers are feeling higher in the best way we’re taking part in.’
There was little question this was the largest evening of the Eagles’ season given the best way their marketing campaign has began to unravel since Glasner introduced in January that he could be leaving this summer season.
2025-26 had promised a lot, however an finish to the European journey in February, whatever the acrimony that has adopted the Austrian in current weeks, would’ve been a catastrophe.
Crystal Palace dispatched Zrinjski Mostar 2-0 at Selhurst Park to achieve the UEFA Convention League final 16
Evann Guessand’s 93rd-minute strike adopted Maxence Lacroix’s first-half header
It’s straightforward to overlook that it’s simply over two months since Palace, not lengthy off a membership report unbeaten run, had been within the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and about to enter the FA Cup as holders, however such has been the collapse of their type that this felt huge.
That jeopardy was added to by Zrinjski supervisor Igor Stimac, as soon as of West Ham and Derby.
At his pre-match press convention, he known as out Palace’s board for a ‘lack of ambition’, spoke about their weaknesses, and expressed a need so as to add to his personal historical past in opposition to the membership. Stimac was at Derby once they beat the Eagles to achieve promotion to the Premier League in 1996.
But regardless of the current chaos that has engulfed Palace and the breakdown in relationship between the followers and Glasner on account of his repeated public outbursts, the house supporters roared their aspect on from earlier than kick-off and this was an evening the place concord returned to Selhurst Park.
‘I am at all times sincere,’ the Austrian added when pressed on his current phrases. ‘I can’t do it otherwise.
‘If I really feel one thing I say it after which I’ve to take the s***storm that follows. Hopefully all people is aware of what I am saying is for the success of Crystal Palace. Tonight the help was nice.’
Palace had gained simply two of their final 16 matches in all competitions heading into this conflict – together with a dire efficiency in final week’s 1-1 attract Bosnia – but the vitality and depth that had been missing throughout that run was again within the first half.
A lot of their European marketing campaign has been hampered by a failure to interrupt down low blocks, however right here they zipped the ball round and pressed with intent.
It was additionally notable how far more direct they had been of their play and Jorgen Strand Larsen, Daichi Kamada and Guessand all went shut early on.
Zrinjski had been dogged, and Stimac’s aspect used all of the tips they may to sluggish Palace down and frustrate them.
But it was Adam Wharton, one among many gamers to have struggled throughout the current run, who whipped in a pleasant free kick for Lacroix, the unsung hero of this aspect, to go dwelling powerfully.
The ambiance ramped up a notch and the query was whether or not the Eagles may capitalise, however Glasner’s aspect squandered a number of alternatives and the stress ramped up.
It nearly value them when Tomi Juric agonisingly headed extensive for Zrinjski in damage time, though that left the stage for Guessand to settle issues after good link-up play with Brennan Johnson as Palace secured their passage to the last-16.
‘Crystal Palace deserved to undergo,’ Stimac stated. ‘They performed higher soccer in each video games.’
