Zrinjski 1-1 Crystal Palace: Ismaïla Sarr strike canceled out as visitors left frustrated ahead of Selhurst Park return

crystal palace failed to turn control into a decisive first-leg win as Ismaïla Sarr's strike was cancelled out and the Premier League side were held 1-1 by Zrinjski Mostar in the Conference League play-off tie. The draw leaves the tie level ahead of the second leg at Selhurst Park on 26 February.

What happened and what’s new

The visitors dominated possession, holding more than 70% of the ball, but could not convert that control into a winning scoreline. Ismaïla Sarr opened the scoring two minutes before half-time, finishing after a neat set-up by new signing Jørgen Strand Larsen; the goal made Sarr the competition's joint-leading contributor for his side this season.

An earlier Palace goal was disallowed in the first half when Chris Richards was judged to have been in an offside position before setting up Sarr. The second half began poorly for the visitors: a loose pass from Adam Wharton allowed Zrinjski to counter, and Karlo Abramovic drilled home the equaliser around the 55th minute.

Palace then survived a late penalty scare when a handball challenge involving Daniel Muñoz prompted a referee review at the monitor; the on-field official ultimately declined to award a penalty. Adam Wharton came close to restoring a lead when his long-range effort hit the crossbar late on.

Behind the headline: Crystal Palace’s night in Mostar

Managerial selection for the trip included a strong attacking set-up, with Adam Wharton, Brennan Johnson and Jørgen Strand Larsen named in the line-up. Strand Larsen's involvement was direct in the opening goal, using a crisp first touch to lay the ball off for Sarr.

Even with heavy possession, the visitors produced relatively few clear-cut finishing opportunities after the restart. Defensive lapses and a key giveaway in midfield directly led to Zrinjski's equaliser. The goalkeeper for the visitors was called into action a handful of times and was briefly exposed by a loose distribution in the first quarter of the match, an instance that required defensive intervention to avert danger.

The draw extends a difficult run of results for the side away from home, with only one win recorded in their last 15 matches across all competitions. For the hosts, converting a momentum swing early in the second half allowed them to leave the tie evenly poised and feed belief ahead of the rematch.

What we still don’t know

• Whether any players picked up injuries that will affect selection for the second leg.
• The precise adjustments the visitors will make to convert possession into more decisive attacking returns.
• How the manager will respond tactically to the midfield turnover that led to the equaliser.
• Whether the late VAR check will prompt any procedural or tactical changes in how aerial challenges are managed going forward.

What happens next

• Home recovery and narrow win: The visitors tighten up the midfield and convert possession into a slender victory at Selhurst Park, overturning the draw into progression. Trigger: clearer attacking patterns and improved final-third execution.
• Another draw and extra time: Similar issues in chance creation persist, producing another drawn result that forces extra time or penalties in the knockout context. Trigger: continued dominance without clinical finishing.
• Host upset and elimination: The visitors fail to flip the script and are beaten at home, handing the hosts a surprise progression. Trigger: defensive errors or failure to adapt to the hosts' counter threat.
• Tactical reshuffle before second leg: The manager alters formation or personnel to address the midfield giveaway and late defensive vulnerability. Trigger: practice-ground emphasis on transition defending and set-up changes announced ahead of the match.

Why it matters

Practically, the draw leaves the tie finely balanced and increases the premium on efficiency and game management for the return fixture at Selhurst Park. For crystal palace, heavy possession that does not translate into goals highlights a persistent challenge: dominance in control but limited conversion. That pattern has consequences for squad morale and the broader run of form, given the limited number of wins in recent matches across competitions.

In the near term, the second leg will determine whether the team can convert their territorial control into knockout progress. For supporters and the club, the match also presents an opportunity to arrest a difficult sequence of results by producing a more decisive, clinical performance at home.