CRYSTAL PALACE huffed and puffed in gale-force winds but blew their chance of taking a lead into the second leg against AEK Larnaca.
The Cypriots recorded a shock 1-0 win at Selhurst Park during Storm Benjamin in October.
Crystal Palace failed to grab the advantage in their Conference League tie against LarnacaCredit: Reuters
And in arguably Palace’s biggest-ever – and windiest-ever – match at Selhurst Park, with a European quarter-final on the line, the hosts produced yet another toothless Conference League display.
Oliver Glasner knew just how important the first goal would be in this two-legged last-16 tie.
Larnaca’s aggregate score across the six league phase matches was 7-1… and that included winning 4-0 in their opening fixture.
That solo goal conceded makes them Europe’s meanest defence across Uefa’s three competitions this season.
Daniel Munoz’s shoulder injury saw winger Brennan Johnson deployed at wing-back, doubling up with Ismaila Sarr down the right.
It was striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, however, who created the first chance from the right after eight minutes, cutting inside his sliding defender and squaring for Evann Guessand but the Ivorian’s close-range shot smacked goalkeeper Zlatan Alomerovic’s shoulder.
Strand Larsen then got a tame shot away, Ismaila Sarr wriggled free but curled his speculative effort over and Guessand diverted one wide on the stretch all inside 20 minutes.
Larnaca, undoubtedly delighted for it to end goalless in South London, took the wind out of Palace’s sails after the promising start.
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But the Eagles should have led at half-time.
Daichi Kamada’s deflected shot fell invitingly for Tyrick Mitchell racing in at the back post but he somehow hit diving Alomerovic’s hip rather than the back of the net.
Johnson grew into the game after the break but neither Jaydee Canvot nor Sarr could head in his wicked crosses against a savage headwind.
The Welshman blazed one over then Chris Richards inexplicably headed a Johnson corner over.
But Richards rescued his side at the other end in the 88th minute just as Larnaca, who did not force birthday-boy Dean Henderson into a save all night, could have headed in for another 1-0 win.
Jean-Philippe Mateta returned after six weeks out and a failed AC Milan medical to a mixed reception but came no closer to breaking the deadlock and there were boos at full-time.
Palace’s faltering forwards will need to be a lot brighter, even as bright as Larnaca’s human-highlighter shirts, to get through next Thursday.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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