Crystal Palace 0-0 Larnaca: Frustrating night as hosts held by Cypriot side
Here at Selhurst Park Crystal Palace simply had to win and they did not, as Cypriot side Larnaca proved too immovable an object and left Oliver Glasner’s side with all the work to do next week in the eastern Mediterranean.
Palace were dominant and chances flowed with Ismaila Sarr and Evann Guessand at the centre of them. The latter missed a chance as early as the eighth minute, only directing his shot at the goalkeeper after Jorgen Strand-Larsen picked him out in the box with a forensic ball from the right. Adam Wharton’s shot proved far too speculative.
Profligacy is often punished in Europe and while Larnaca must take the credit for defending well in a frustrating low block, having kept six clean sheets in seven European outings this season, Glasner’s team must also share the blame for leaving home their scoring boots and ultimately failing to breach the defence here in south London with their fans behind them.
Somehow now they must score in Cyprus to keep their continental dreams alive or leave their fate to a penalty shootout in a hostile away ground, though on the evidence of their Conference League outings so far it is difficult to see.
Tyrick Mitchell stole in from the left and managed to get on the end Daichi Kamada’s pass after good work from the Japanese, but somehow he struck the ball against the knee of goalkeeper Zlatan Alomerovic and the ball flew over the crossbar.
Sarr shortly after failed to direct his header on target facing the goal full on after Brennan Johnson’s inviting cross. Guessand had been lurking at the far post. Chris Richards rose high on the far post following Johnson’s promising corner but his header went over.
Jean-Philippe Mateta replaced Strand-Larsen to make his first appearance since the knee injury that prevented his deadline-day move in January, and he had a chance after a deflection off Sarr’s cross fell into his path but could not get a foot to it.
