Crystal Palace 1-2 Fiorentina (4-2 agg): Sarr 17; Gudmundsson 30, Ndour 53
Crystal Palace are through to the Conference League semi-finals despite a 2-1 second-leg loss to Fiorentina, advancing 4-2 on aggregate. Despite going 4-0 up very early on the night, Oliver Glasner’s men ended up having a very nervy game.
Daniel Munoz’s cross allowed Ismaila Sarr to head Palace in front and it seemed matters would be comfortable for them, but left-back Jaydee Canvot was penalised for kicking Rolando Mandragora’s ankle, and Albert Gudmundsson converted from the spot to make it 1-1 on the night.
Then Palace lost two starters in one half. Adam Wharton limped off with a suspected adductor injury and was replaced by Jefferson Lerma, before Maxence Lacroix collided with Munoz and eventually had to be withdrawn for Chadi Riad.
The pressure was on, and if Henderson kept his side well ahead of the opposition by denying Manor Solomon just before the break, Oliver Glasner was eager to see them create more threats going forward, replacing striker Jean-Philippe Mateta with Jorgen Strand Larsen.
But nerves only grew for Palace after Cher Ndour hammered home from 25-yards to make it 2-1 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate, with over half an hour left on the clock.
Fiorentina turned the screw as they pursued a third, and right before Gudmundsson forced another save from Henderson, the referee waved away Fiorentina calls for another penalty. Palace had reprieve and they could breathe easier after Roberto Piccoli’s header sailed over the bar with nine minutes remaining and the chances of their opponents completing a comeback had slimmed.
