zrinjski hold Crystal Palace to 1-1 in Conference League play-off first leg
Zrinjski Mostar and Crystal Palace shared a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Europa Conference League play-off tie, a match that combined tense moments, an injury delay and VAR intervention. Palace's continental tour continues with the tie delicately poised ahead of the return leg.
Match events: injury stoppage, late drama and key saves
The game was interrupted by an injury to Zrinjski forward Mario Cuze, which forced a delay and eventually saw Tomi Juric introduced as his replacement. The substitution followed treatment and a stoppage that unsettled the rhythm of the contest. Zrinjski also made a later change with Dan Lagumdzija replacing Antonio Ivancic.
Disciplinary moments punctuated the match: Zrinjski's Marko Vranjkovic was shown a yellow card for a bad foul, while Duje Dujmovic won a defensive free kick for his side. Palace pressed in spells, creating opportunities from set-piece situations — Borna Sosa and Daichi Kamada both won attacking free kicks — and Daniel Muñoz picked up a defensive free kick for Palace in transition phases.
One of the decisive moments came from Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who blocked Matej Sakota's left-footed shot from the centre of the box after Mario Cuze had set up the chance. That save prevented Zrinjski from taking the lead at a crucial moment and kept the tie level going into the latter stages. The fourth official signalled five minutes of added time as the match entered its closing phase.
VAR review, tactical changes and Palace's European journey
VAR intervened in a potentially game-changing moment but ultimately ruled no penalty for Zrinjski, a decision that preserved Palace's foothold in the tie. Palace made tactical switches from the bench, bringing Tyrick Mitchell on for Chadi Riad and Evann Guessand on for Jørgen Strand Larsen as they hunted for a late winner.
The draw arrives as Palace continue a long continental campaign: this Mostar fixture is another stop after a European run that has included trips to Norway, Poland, France and the Republic of Ireland. Palace have already logged thousands of miles on the road this season and enter the second leg with the experience of multiple away fixtures under Oliver Glasner’s management.
From Zrinjski’s perspective, the Bosnian side reached this round in dramatic fashion late on in their league-phase run and will view the home draw as a platform to push for qualification in front of their supporters. Palace, meanwhile, will weigh up rotation and recovery as they balance domestic commitments with the prize on offer in this competition.
What to watch in the second leg
Several strands will determine the outcome in the return fixture. Palace's attacking options — Ismaila Sarr has shown sharpness since returning from international duty and remains a candidate to make an impact — could prove decisive if given sustained minutes. Sarr’s recent minutes in the competition show a player who has created opportunities and notched goals in limited starts.
Zrinjski will back their set-piece threat and the physical edge they brought to the first leg, but will rue missed chances such as Sakota’s saved effort. Discipline will be important: Vranjkovic’s yellow card and other fouls could force selection constraints for the away leg. Finally, VAR decisions and refereeing calls look set to play a role again; the no-penalty ruling in this game ensured the tie remains open.
With the aggregate score level, both teams head into the second leg knowing a single goal could swing momentum dramatically. Expect a tactical chess match, careful squad management and renewed urgency as each side chases a place in the last 16.
