Europa Conference League: Crystal Palace held 1-1 by Zrinjski after Ismaïla Sarr strike
The Europa Conference League tie between Crystal Palace and Zrinjski Mostar finished 1-1 after Ismaïla Sarr curled Palace ahead before Karlo Abramovic levelled early in the second half, leaving the tie finely poised ahead of the return at Selhurst Park on 26 February at 3: 00 PM ET.
Europa Conference League first leg: key moments
Crystal Palace enjoyed more than 70% possession and started the stronger team, carving openings through Adam Wharton and Ismaïla Sarr. The visitors looked set to take control when Sarr struck two minutes before half‑time, a curled finish created by Jørgen Strand Larsen's lay‑off that took Sarr's tally to three goals in this season's competition.
Ten minutes into the second half Zrinjski capitalised on a loose pass from Wharton; Leo Mikic's run led to Karlo Abramovic drilling a low shot into the far corner to draw the hosts level. Palace threatened again later when Wharton rattled the crossbar with a long‑range effort, but they were unable to regain the lead in Mostar.
Late drama, VAR check and what Palace must fix
The match featured a late scare for the Premier League side when Zrinjski players briefly believed they had won a penalty for a handball challenge in the box. The referee called for a monitor check and, after the review, no penalty was awarded — a reprieve that left Palace alive but not convincing. The visitors also saw a good opportunity go begging when Mario Cuze was left one‑on‑one with Dean Henderson but failed to convert.
Manager Oliver Glasner selected a strong line‑up that included Brennan Johnson and Strand Larsen, but Palace's dominance was undermined by costly lapses: a sloppy start to the second half directly led to the equaliser, and the team have won only one of their last 15 matches across all competitions, a statistic that underlines how fragile their momentum is heading into the home leg.
Looking ahead to Selhurst Park
With the tie level, the second leg at Selhurst Park on 26 February at 3: 00 PM ET will effectively decide who progresses. Palace will hope to convert their heavy possession into more clinical finishing and avoid the turnover that allowed Zrinjski back into the tie. Zrinjski, buoyed by their second‑half response and a late VAR decision that went their way, will travel with belief that they can spring an upset if Palace fail to tighten up defensively.
Ultimately, the first leg delivered a mix of promise and warning for Palace: there were clear attacking moments, notably Sarr's strike set up by Strand Larsen, but the concession after a Wharton error and the narrow escape from a potential penalty mean the tie is far from settled.
