Crystal Palace kept their European adventure alive after battling past AEK Larnaca 2-1 after extra time in Cyprus, sealing progress to the UEFA Conference League quarter finals by the same aggregate score. Ismaila Sarr proved the difference with both Palace goals as the Premier League side set up a last-eight meeting with Fiorentina.
Palace made the breakthrough early on when Sarr raced through and finished confidently to give the visitors the lead on the night. Oliver Glasner’s side looked the more dangerous team for long spells and might have put the tie beyond doubt sooner, but AEK Larnaca remained in the contest and punished Palace’s wastefulness after the break. Enric Saborit rose to score the equaliser for the Cypriot side, dragging the match into a nervy finale.
The hosts were then dealt a major blow when Saborit was sent off after picking up a second yellow card, both for fouls on Sarr, yet Palace still had to wait until extra time to find the decisive moment. That finally arrived in the 99th minute when Daichi Kamada’s cutback was guided home first time by Sarr, who once again stepped up in a key European moment for the Eagles.
AEK Larnaca’s night got worse before the end as Petros Ioannou was also sent off, leaving the home side with nine men. Palace, meanwhile, held firm to claim their first win in three matches across all competitions and continue what is already their best ever run in a major UEFA tournament.
The reward for Crystal Palace is a quarter-final clash with Fiorentina, with UEFA confirming that the first leg will be played at Selhurst Park on 9 April before the return in Florence on 16 April.
