Europa Conference League: Ismaïla Sarr’s Strike Sees Palace Held 1-1 by Zrinjski
Crystal Palace left their Europa Conference League tie evenly poised after a 1-1 draw at Zrinjski Mostar, despite enjoying more than 70% possession and a first-half goal from Ismaïla Sarr.
Match action: Sarr strike and Zrinjski response
Palace finally broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute when Ismaïla Sarr curled home following a crisp first touch from new signing Jørgen Strand Larsen, taking his competition tally to three goals. The Premier League visitors had earlier seen a Sarr finish ruled out for offside, and they dominated large periods of the opening 45.
However, ten minutes into the second half Zrinjski capitalised on a sloppy Palace pass in midfield from Adam Wharton. Karlo Abramovic drilled the equaliser into the far corner to level the tie and force Palace into a more nervy second period than their early dominance suggested.
Europa Conference League tie now hinges on Selhurst Park return
Palace will now prepare for the second leg at Selhurst Park on 26 February, scheduled for 3: 00 PM ET. The draw leaves the tie finely poised and places fresh emphasis on a confident home display, after a run in which Palace have won only one of their last 15 games across all competitions.
Key moments late in the match added to Palace’s discomfort. Adam Wharton, who had earlier rattled the crossbar with a long-range effort, was culpable for the pass that led to Zrinjski’s equaliser. The visitors also survived a late penalty scare when officials reviewed an alleged handball but ultimately did not award a spot-kick following a VAR check, allowing Palace to breathe a sigh of relief.
What went right and what needs fixing for Palace
While Palace controlled possession for the majority of the match, they struggled to convert that control into clear-cut chances after the interval. Sarr’s goal, set up by Strand Larsen, was one of the clearer attacking moments created, but the visitors were punished for a loss of composure immediately after half-time.
The performance offered mixed signals: attacking reinforcements were visible in the lineup and Palace did create opportunities, yet defensive lapses and a failure to sustain pressure allowed Zrinjski back into the tie. With a disappointing domestic result fresh in the memory from the previous outing, the focus for Palace will be on tightening up mistakes and producing a more clinical display at Selhurst Park to progress in the Europa Conference League.
