Crystal Palace Vs Zrinjski: chaotic season could still end in European glory
Crystal Palace gained a 2-0 win over Bosnian side Zrinjski to seal a 3-1 aggregate victory and reach the Conference League last 16, in a result that shows their chaotic season can still produce European progress. The draw for the last-16 opponents will take place on Friday at 13: 00 GMT, keeping the club’s continental hopes very much alive in a campaign defined by upheaval and headlines.
Selhurst Park triumph and the tie settled by Lacroix and Guessand
Maxence Lacroix and Evann Guessand scored the goals as Palace beat Zrinjski 2-0 at Selhurst Park to seal a 3-1 aggregate victory. In the wake of the win, captain Dean Henderson joked, "I don't know what all the fuss was about, " remarking shortly after the result that secured Palace's place in the last 16.
Oliver Glasner admits sparking media storm
Oliver Glasner conceded he had sparked a media storm and said some of his interviews "were not really helpful" and that he had to admit that. The Austrian, described as the most successful manager in the club's history, had announced in January he was leaving at the end of the season and told the club's board they had "abandoned" the squad; that appeared to mark the end of his tenure, but he has stayed. Fans held up a banner on Sunday before the 1-0 win over Wolves saying he was "finished".
Asked if he had assurance of his job from his bosses, Glasner said "100%", adding: "There's so much noise, sometimes you really don't understand it. Maybe I gave some interviews that were not helpful and I have to admit that, but I'm always telling what I'm feeling, it's how I am. " He also said, "If the players believe in me and the staff, that's the most important thing, otherwise, you can pack your suitcase and go home because the players have to perform on the pitch, " and spoke of "great togetherness in the group - players, staff, really positive. The same with the sporting director and the chairman. "
Crystal Palace Vs Zrinjski and the path in Europe
Their first European campaign will continue after being demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League following last season's FA Cup triumph. Palace will find out their Conference League last-16 opponents in the draw on Friday at 13: 00 GMT; the last 16 could pair them with either the Cypriot side Larnaca, who they lost to during the group stages, or Mainz from Germany.
Silverware and squad turnover during a turbulent 12 months
The club's recent honours include their first major trophy in May, beating Manchester City to win the FA Cup, and then clinching the Community Shield three months later with a penalty shootout win over Liverpool. Yet several key players have moved on: winger Eberechi Eze left for Arsenal; skipper Marc Guehi nearly joined Liverpool before moving to Manchester City five months later; and top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta was on the verge of signing for AC Milan only to fail a medical.
Fan reaction, match coverage and wider European results
Supporter unrest was visible: Palace rejected a request from the supporters' group responsible for the banner directed against Glasner and the club's board in their last match against Wolves to turn off the music so they could "back the team during the pre-match warm-up" on the grounds that Uefa's regulations wouldn't allow it. A large group of travelling supporters took up position two hours before kick-off and helped create a decent atmosphere despite a large number of empty seats in the home sections. During the first half the Holmesdale Fanatics displayed the message: "40 quid? Palace fans fleeced = empty seats. "
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Elsewhere in European competition, Williot Swedberg scored the only goal as Celta Vigo beat PAOK 3-1 on aggregate to set up a last-16 tie against either Aston Villa or Lyon. Lille bounced back from losing the first leg to win 2-0 at Red Star Belgrade with goals from Olivier Giroud and Nathan Ngoy, and will provide potential opposition for Villa or Lyon in Friday's draw. Robbie Keane's Ferencvaros overturned a one-goal first-leg deficit to win 2-0 at home and knock out Ludogorets Razgrad.
First-half goals from Gabi Kanichowsky and Kristoffer Zachariassen put the Hungarian side into the next round, where they will face Porto or Braga, one of which Stuttgart will also face despite losing 1-0 at home to Celtic. Luke McCowan's goal after 28 seconds was the Europa League's fastest in 10 years but the hosts prevailed 4-2 on aggregate. Panathinaikos, who played the second half of extra time with 10 men after Javi Hernández was sent off, beat Viktoria Plzen 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the second leg made it 3-3 on aggregate. Andreas Tetteh put the visitors ahead early but Karel Spacil equalised for Plzen and in the shootout Milos Pantovic scored the decisive spot-kick with Midtjylland or Real Betis awaiting in the last 16; Nottingham Forest, who beat Fenerbahce on aggregate, are also potential opponents for Midtjylland or Betis. Bologna beat 10-man Brann 1-0 on the night and 2-0 on aggregate to set up a last-16 tie.
