Crystal Palace Edges AEK Larnaca 2-1 to Reach Conference League Quarterfinals Against Fiorentina, Thanks to Sarr's Stunning Brace

ISMAILA SARR may not have to wait long to replace his Africa Cup of Nations medal with a Conference League one.

Senegal had their January Afcon title cruelly stripped away and handed to Morocco this week following their mid-match walk-off protest.

Ismaila Sarr got both Crystal Palace goals of the tense last-16 tieCredit: Reuters

But winger Sarr’s double kept Crystal Palace’s maiden European adventure alive against nine-man AEK Larnaca to ensure the Eagles are just about still dreaming of another open-top bus trophy parade around South London come May.

Finally, after 193 frustrating minutes this season, Oliver Glasner’s side scored against the Cypriot Cup champions.

Adam Wharton’s first-time ball on halfway was nodded into the path of Sarr who raced clear, touched across the onrushing goalkeeper and rolled coolly in.

The goal forced Larnaca out of their shell but the Eagles pushed for a second, Sarr glancing a header into the bottom corner but just offside and even trying his luck from well inside his own half either side of the break.

But out of nowhere, Larnaca levelled on 63 minutes.

Enric Saborit easily beat Chris Richards from a corner and thumped his header home, sparking carnage at the AEK Arena.

Saborit went from hero to zero ten minutes later, sent off for two bookings after twice dragging back Sarr.

Glasner threw on striker Jean-Philippe Mateta for defender Jaydee Canvot, pairing him with Jorgen Strand Larsen for the first time but no one in white could find a winner inside normal time.

But nine minutes into extra-time, Sarr stepped up again to sweep home Daichi Kamada’s low pass across.

The super-confident Senegal speedster then rattled the crossbar with an emphatic strike, denying him his first career hat-trick, before Strand Larsen headed against the post seconds later.

The Eagles had a late heart-in-mouth moment with a late VAR handball penalty check then Larnaca had Petros Ioannou red-carded for a high foul on Mateta.

There was still time for Sarr to hit the post as Palace countered with the goalkeeper up but he hit the post of an empty goal from an angle in a chaotic finale.

Sarr, though, had singlehandedly already done the significant damage.

Glasner, Europa League winner with Frankfurt in 2022, has given Palace fans the wildest ride of their lives over the last year… and the rollercoaster is not ending just yet.

So now after trips to Norway, Poland, France, Ireland, Bosnia and Cyprus, it is next stop Italy to face Fiorentina in the quarter-finals next month.

Sarr took his goal well to roll past the goalkeeperCredit: Reuters This was Palace’s sixth away trip in Europe this seasonCredit: Getty Sarr squandered chances to find Palace’s secondCredit: Reuters Enric Saborit headed AEK Larnaca levelCredit: Shutterstock Editorial Chris Richards did not challenge well from the cornerCredit: Getty Saborit was sent off for twice pulling back SarrCredit: Reuters Oliver Glasner watched on nervouslyCredit: Reuters