Sarr Shines as Crystal Palace Secure European Glory at Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace fans finally got what they’d been waiting for — a night to remember in Europe. The Eagles claimed their first-ever home win in a major European competition, beating AZ Alkmaar 3-1 in the Europa Conference League. And the hero of the night? Ismaila Sarr, who found the net twice in a thrilling performance under the Selhurst Park lights.
The match began with plenty of drama. Palace started strong, attacking with real intent, but Jean-Philippe Mateta missed a golden chance from the penalty spot midway through the first half. He seemed a little caught off guard, not quite ready when the whistle went, and AZ goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro made an easy save. But the miss didn’t derail Palace’s momentum for long.
Not long after, centre-back Maxence Lacroix gave Palace the lead with a powerful strike from the edge of the box — a goal that initially looked offside but was eventually confirmed after a lengthy VAR check that had the home crowd on edge. It was Lacroix’s first goal in the Europa Conference League, and it set the tone for what was to come.
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As halftime approached, Ismaila Sarr — who had been lively all game — doubled the lead. When AZ failed to clear their lines, Sarr was quick to react, poking the ball over the line in added time to make it 2-0. The atmosphere inside Selhurst Park was electric; fans could sense this was a special night for their club.
After the break, AZ Alkmaar found a lifeline when Sven Mijnans struck from distance in the 54th minute, wrong-footing goalkeeper Dean Henderson. But any hopes of a Dutch comeback were quickly dashed. Just two minutes later, Sarr struck again, sprinting through the defence and calmly slotting home his second of the evening. That goal restored Palace’s two-goal cushion and effectively sealed the victory.
This result meant a lot for Oliver Glasner’s side. After a disappointing home defeat to AEK Larnaca earlier in the competition, Palace looked determined to make things right. The manager’s decision to field a strong lineup clearly paid off — and the team rewarded their supporters with a dominant, confident display.
Sarr’s brace took his season tally to nine goals across all competitions, cementing his role as Palace’s attacking spark. The win also pushed the club up to ninth in the Conference League standings, keeping their European hopes very much alive.
Up next, Crystal Palace return to Premier League action against Brighton this weekend, before heading to France to face Strasbourg later this month in their next European test. For now, though, the Eagles can celebrate a famous European night — one that might just be the start of something special at Selhurst Park.
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