Matt Thacker
Cyprus became the latest stop on Crystal Palace’s European tour. It was the second leg of the last-16 tie against AEK Larnaca, the same side that had already frustrated Palace in the group stage and again in the first leg. Twice Palace failed to score in both matches played at Selhurst Park. In their first meeting, Larnaca arrived as 16/1 underdogs but left with a 1-0 victory and a growing sense of belief.
Going 180 minutes without a goal against the same opposition had started to worry the travelling support. Despite the logistical challenges of reaching Cyprus, Crystal Palace fans once again travelled in force. Paphos and Larnaca became arrival points for supporters determined not to miss another chapter of this European journey.
@forfitnesssake Palace fans in Cyprus ❤️💙 #cpfc #awaydays #palace #fyp #larnaca ♬ Back In Black – AC/DC
Around the town of Larnaca, chants echoed through the streets, mixed with loud thunder and heavy rain – it felt like the UK weather had travelled with them. It only added to the atmosphere building ahead of kick-off.
Inside the stadium, the sense of occasion was unmistakable. A knockout night, optimism in the air but also an air of uncertainty.
The game itself quickly delivered.
@forfitnesssake AEK Larnaca vs Palace 🦅🇨🇾 All set 🙌 #cpfc #larnaca #fyp #uefa #football ♬ Pump – Valentino Khan
An early chance fell to Ismaïla Sarr, a sign Palace meant business. Soon after, the breakthrough finally arrived. A deflected through ball from Adam Wharton released Sarr, who went one-on-one, rounded the goalkeeper and calmly slotted home. Palace had finally scored against Larnaca, ending a 193-minute wait.
You wouldn’t have known the hosts were behind. The Larnaca crowd were relentless – loud, bouncing and fully behind their team. Sarr thought he had a second after a delivery from Daichi Kamada, but the goal was ruled out. Palace went into the break leading 0–1.
The second half changed everything.
In the 63rd minute, Eric Saborit rose highest from a corner and powered home a header to make it 1–1. The stadium erupted, the noise was incredible! Suddenly, it was game on. Momentum swung wildly. Then, in a dramatic twist, Saborit went from hero to zero shown a red card that shifted the balance once more.
Oliver Glasner responded, switching Palace into a 4-4-2, pushing Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jørgen Strand Larsen up front, the first time they had played together.
Palace couldn’t find a winner so extra time it was. The extra 30 minutes brought chaos, tension and moments that will live long in the memory.
In the 99th minute, Kamada’s low cross finding Sarr, who finished to restore the lead. Palace 1–2 ahead. The drama didn’t stop there. Sarr was denied a hat-trick by the crossbar, Strand Larsen struck the post and Larnaca began to fade.
Tempers boiled over on the touchline as frustration with the referee spilled from the home bench, drawing a rare and uncharacteristic show of anger from Oliver Glasner, who reacted furiously and was booked for his actions.
Then came a dramatic twist. AEK Larnaca, refusing to give in even with a man down, pushed until the very end and was awarded a penalty. Confusion swept through the stadium, but after a tense delay the decision was overturned, igniting fury from the home support. Emotions were running high as the match spiralled into chaos, and it finished with yet another dismissal for Larnaca – Petros Ioannou sent off.
After the game, I spoke with Glasner, who reflected on the performance and the drama of the night.
“We dictated the pace of the game and were really aggressive playing forward, creating many dangerous situations, even hitting the post three times at the end.” He added: “Huge achievement for Crystal Palace and a huge achievement for all of us.”
The match had been fiery on the touchline too, with Glasner booked during a heated moment involving the home bench. Asked about the incident, he explained: “I think it’s too much, 10 to 15 staff members approaching the pitch is too much, so I have to protect my team.”
When Sarr scored his second goal, he ran straight to the Palace manager and embraced him, a moment that summed up the unity within the squad. Glasner smiled when asked about it afterwards. “I like when players are hugging me, but it’s better for my heart that the goals are scored. We missed a lot of chances! When you have 29 shots, you expect a relaxed game, but today was not relaxed.”
He also had a message for the supporters following Palace across Europe. “We have such an amazing group of players. To the fans, I promise I am giving my best. The whole staff and players have a very close relationship.”
Speaking with AEK Larnaca manager Javi Rozada after the match (translated from Spanish), he reflected with pride on his team’s performance. “I am so proud of my team. I am passionate, and my players respond well to our game.”
Reacting to the chaos in the closing moments, he added: “We are playing a Premier League team. We had to give everything, I could not be more proud of the passion and commitment from my players’’
The reward for Crystal Palace now is a mouth-watering quarter-final against ACF Fiorentina, a tie that could define their European campaign and truly test just how far this Palace side can go.
