Palace Struggles Continue Despite Early Lead in Eastern European Showdown

omidbasir- Crystal Palace supporters embarked on a lengthy journey to Eastern Europe, eager to witness their team make progress towards the knockout stage of continental competition. Ismaila Sarr initiated the scoring at a modest stadium that accommodates only 9,000 spectators. Manager Oliver Glasner fielded a robust starting lineup, which featured England international Adam Wharton and record signing Jorgen Strand Larsen.

However, the Eagles found themselves equalized by Karlo Abramovic just ten minutes into the second half, ultimately settling for a stalemate. This result contributes to a challenging trend, as the team has secured only one victory in their last 15 matches across all competitions.

Frustrated supporters voiced their discontent, directing chants at Glasner, who had previously led Palace to their first major trophy. This success included the 2025 FA Cup triumph followed by a victory over Liverpool in the Community Shield.

Despite these achievements, Glasner announced his decision to depart South London upon the expiration of his contract this summer. Some fans expressed a desire for him to leave sooner, chanting “sacked in the morning” directed towards the dugout in Mostar.

Throughout Palace’s draw with Zrinjski, Glasner appeared visibly frustrated, notably criticizing wing-back Daniel Munoz as he exited the field at the final whistle. He later conveyed his disappointment to TNT Sports, stating, “We made two easy mistakes. While we created numerous opportunities, we struggled defensively in one-on-one situations.

“I mentioned before the game that we needed to tighten our defense. The team is not currently in the best rhythm, and frequent changes have disrupted our consistency. We must adopt a self-critical approach after today’s performance. We controlled the game, similar to our match against Burnley (a 3-2 defeat), but surrendered momentum due to avoidable errors.”

Palace still holds the potential to progress through the Conference League knockout phase, with a return fixture against Zrinjski scheduled for Selhurst Park next Thursday. A favorable outcome in that match would bolster their quest for additional major silverware.

Glasner will be aiming to foster positivity and momentum as the team returns to Premier League action this Sunday, facing bottom-placed Wolverhampton. Currently, the Eagles find themselves eight points clear of the relegation zone.