Crystal Palace were left stunned in the Conference League as Cypriot side AEK Larnaca secured a historic 1-0 win at Selhurst Park.
In their first-ever European match at Selhurst Park, Palace’s players were welcomed out to a raucous atmosphere. The stadium announcer called on supporters to bring their south London spirit and, with a dig in the ribs at UEFA, they made their voices heard.
“We are the boys who will win your little game” read one banner in the Holmesdale End as they welcomed the players onto the pitch. Another plotted their battle path to Leipzig, where next year’s Conference League final will be held.
Palace will have to play a damn sight better than they did tonight if they are to make it to Germany in May.
After a frustrating first-half in which Palace failed to record a shot on target, excitement quickly turned to anxiety when Larnaca struck against the run of play six minutes after the break to take a shock lead.
Oliver Glasner’s side impressed in their opening league phase game, beating Dynamo Kyiv 2-0 in Poland, but they toiled on a bitterly cold evening in south London to make it three games without a win in all competitions.
Palace and their supporters are determined to prove to UEFA they are above the Conference League, not in a self-absorbent manner, but because they feel they are deserving of their place in the Europa League on sporting merit.
This, however, was a reality check for a team whose club-record 19-game unbeaten run suddenly feels a distant memory.
It was Palace’s game to lose. They had more than 67% of the ball, and so it was only right that it was their mistake which handed Larnaca an unlikely lead when Riad Bajic rifled home after Marcus Rohden had latched on to a stray pass from Jaydee Canvot.
The 19-year-old, a £23million summer signing from Toulouse, suffered a testing night and faced the full brunt of Glasner’s ruthless edge as he was replaced for Eddie Nketiah on the hour mark.
It was the Frenchman’s mistake that had given Larnaca the lead, but it was not his fault alone that Palace found themselves behind to a team currently sat fifth in the Cypriot First Division.
Palace continue to struggle creating chances when afforded the lion’s share of possession. They are among the favourites to win the Conference League, but they are struggling to shed that underdog spirit.
Jean-Philippe Mateta spurned the best opening of the first-half, finding the top of the crossbar from close range.
The striker responded in style to his war of words with Palace legend Wilfred Zaha by netting a hat-trick against Bournemouth, but it was his miss at the death against the Cherries that stuck in supporters’ minds, and there is certainly something to be said about his wastefulness in front of goal.
The 28-year-old missed another presentable opportunity after half-time, firing an effort into the body of Larnaca ‘keeper Zlatan Alomerovic, as the away side stood firm against an onslaught of Palace chances.
For all their pressure, Palace mustered just one shot on target, one fewer than Larnaca.
If they are to challenge for the Conference League they have to find their ruthless streak.
