Crystal Palace’s Conference League hopes hang in the balance after a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Zrinjski Mostar in the first leg of their knockout phase playoff.
Oliver Glasner had reinforced his attacking ranks since their last European outing in December, but it was Ismaïla Sarr, assisted by the January signing Jørgen Strand Larsen, who broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time.
The Eagles allowed Karlo Abramovic to score a second-half equaliser, then failed to create many chances, coming closest when Adam Wharton rattled the crossbar.
It was another disappointing display from the struggling Premier League side, once touted as favourites to win the competition, but now they are hoping they can simply survive beyond next week with a more inspiring outing at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles, who suffered a disappointing 3-2 Premier League defeat by Burnley last time out, had early chances through Wharton and Sarr, who had the ball in the back of the net but the offside flag was raised.
The Palace goalkeeper, Dean Henderson, was tested just once in the first 15 minutes when he came out to collect a ball after a Zrinjski free-kick, then nearly gave away a chance with a loose pass and had Chadi Riad to thank for getting him out of danger.
A couple of encouraging spells for the hosts midway through the half ended without reward and it was a similar story at the other end of the pitch, where Goran Karacic claimed Daniel Muñoz’s cross-shot and Palace could not take advantage of Chris Richards’ throw-in.
Zrinjski might have taken the lead first but wasted a golden chance when Antonio Ivancic fluffed his lines, five minutes before Sarr finally broke the deadlock.
The Senegal international was teed up by Strand Larsen, whose lay-off allowed Sarr to fire low through a crowd and into the net.
Palace put Zrinjski under pressure after the break but lost their way when Wharton gave away the ball in midfield and the hosts took full advantage. Leo Mikic found Abramovic, who gave Henderson no chance as he drilled the equaliser into the far corner.
Zrinjski should have taken the lead when Mario Cuze found himself one-on-one with Henderson but he shot wide of the Palace captain’s right post. It was a let-off for the Eagles, who struggled to create any real chances until Wharton clipped the crossbar with just under 20 minutes remaining.
Karacic turned a Yeremy Pino effort behind his post and Richards directed a header off target before Zrinjski worked their way back up the pitch, where Henderson denied Matej Sakota.
Confusion ensued after the rebound as the hosts initially thought they had won a penalty for a Muñoz handball. The defender, in an aerial challenge, found himself sandwiched in between Henderson and Kerim Memija. The referee was called to the monitor but disagreed that Muñoz deserved punishment – and Palace breathed another sigh of relief.
