Zrinjski Vs Crystal Palace: Draw hands Palace a wake-up call after dominant but wasteful first leg

The knockout tie between the clubs left a clear immediate casualty: momentum. The 1-1 first-leg stalemate in the Zrinjski Vs Crystal Palace tie handed the hosts a lifeline and forced the Premier League side to answer questions about finishing, game management and recent form—Palace have won one of their last 15 games across all competitions. Ismaila Sarr scored for the visitors but Zrinjski equalised early in the second half, leaving the tie evenly poised ahead of the second leg on 26 February (20: 00 GMT).

Zrinjski Vs Crystal Palace — who feels the pressure and why

Here’s the part that matters: possession did not translate into control. Palace enjoyed more than 70% of possession yet could not convert that dominance into a decisive advantage. That imbalance affects players, the manager and supporters alike—especially given a run of poor results that leaves little margin for error in a two-legged playoff.

Key tactical and personnel notes from the outing are rooted in a handful of moments: a disallowed Sarr finish early on, a half-time strike that finally broke the deadlock, and a sloppy pass that gifted Zrinjski a route back into the game. A late VAR check for an alleged handball threatened the visitors, but no penalty was given, keeping the score level.

Match details and decisive moments

Palace started strongly and threatened on several occasions. An early Sarr volley was saved and a later Sarr finish was ruled out for an offside involvement from a teammate. Two minutes before half-time, Jorgen Strand Larsen set up Ismaila Sarr, who curled home to put the visitors ahead; that strike increased his tally in this season's competition.

Ten minutes into the second half the hosts capitalised on a loose pass from Adam Wharton: Karlo Abramovic drilled the equaliser into the far corner after a strong run created the chance. Later, Wharton nearly atoned when a long-range effort rattled the crossbar inside the final 20 minutes. Palace also survived a tense moment when an alleged handball in the area led to a VAR check and a call to the monitor; the referee ultimately declined to award a penalty.

Notable contributions on the night included a last-ditch defensive intervention, a missed one-on-one chance for the hosts, and a goalkeeper whose distribution was tested. The tie will be decided at Selhurst Park in the second leg on 26 February (20: 00 GMT), leaving both sides with straightforward objectives: Palace must turn territorial dominance into goals; Zrinjski will seek to exploit mistakes and home confidence.

• Score: Zrinjski Mostar 1-1 Crystal Palace (first leg)
• Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring for Palace; Karlo Abramovic levelled for Zrinjski.
• Palace had over 70% possession but produced limited clear chances; they have won one of their last 15 matches.
• A VAR check for an alleged handball late on led to no penalty being awarded.
• Second leg scheduled for Selhurst Park on 26 February (20: 00 GMT); schedule subject to change.

It’s easy to overlook, but a recurring theme was how few genuine clear-cut chances Palace created despite long spells of control—possession alone will not settle a knockout tie. The real question now is whether Palace can convert dominance into a decisive performance at home, or whether Zrinjski will make home advantage and the first-leg reprieve count.

Quick micro timeline: 43rd minute — Sarr strike put Palace ahead; 55th minute — Abramovic equalised for Zrinjski; 26 February (20: 00 GMT) — second leg at Selhurst Park.

Key takeaways for fans and analysts: the tie is alive, Palace must sharpen finishing and ball retention in key zones, and set-piece or turnover moments look likely to decide the outcome over 180 minutes. If you’re wondering why this keeps coming up: one dominant display without clinical execution often produces precisely this kind of draw.

What’s easy to miss is how single errors—an errant pass, a momentary slip in concentration—have outsized effects in two-leg knockout football; this game offered several textbook examples.