Crystal Palace 2-0 Zrinjski Mostar: Oliver Glasner finally finds the formula in Europe with key tactical change – as Eagles unite Selhurst Park despite chaos engulfing the club

Right when they needed them, Crystal Palace‘s big players stepped up as Oliver Glasner‘s side kept their European dream alive thanks to Maxence Lacroix and Evann Guessand’s decisive goals. 

On an electric night at Selhurst Park, the Frenchman’s first-half header and the Ivorian’s late strike proved vital as Palace finally overcame their plucky Bosnian opponents Zrinjski Mostar.

There was no doubt this was the biggest night of the Eagles’ season given the way their campaign has started to unravel ever since Oliver Glasner announced in January that he would be leaving come the summer.

In a campaign that had promised so much, an end to the European journey in February, regardless of the acrimony that has followed the Austrian around in recent weeks, would’ve been a disaster.

It is easy to forget that it is just over two months since Palace, not long off a club record unbeaten run, were in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and about to enter the FA Cup as reigning champions, but such has been the collapse in their form, that this felt enormous for a multitude of reasons.

That jeopardy was only added to by Zrinjski manager Igor Stimac, once of West Ham and Derby. Pre-match he called out Palace’s board for a ‘lack of ambition’, spoke about their weaknesses against teams who defend deep, and expressed a desire to add to his own history against Palace. Stimac was part of the Derby team who beat the Eagles to gain promotion to the Premier League back in 1996.

Evann Guessand’s 93rd-minute strike followed Maxence Lacroix’s first-half header 

Despite the recent chaos that has engulfed Palace and the seeming breakdown in relationship between the fans and Glasner, the home supporters roared their side on from the warm-up after a rallying call from the fan group Holmesdale Fanatics.

Palace had won just two of their last 16 matches in all competitions – including a dire performance in last week’s 1-1 draw in Bosnia that they perhaps should have lost – yet all the energy and intensity that had been lacking during that run was back in the first half.

Much of their European campaign has been hampered by a failure to break down low blocks, but here they zipped the ball around and pressed with intent.

It was also notable how much more direct they were in their play and Jorgen Strand Larsen, Daichi Kamada and Evann Guessand all went close.

Zrinjski, who drew 1-1 and lost 1-0 to Aston Villa in the group stage of this competition two years ago, proved to be dogged, and Stimac’s side used all the tricks in the book to slow Palace down and frustrate them. That angst was added to by a chaotic performance from Portuguese referee Luis Godinho.

Yet it was Wharton, one of many players to have been off colour during the recent run, who whipped in a delightful free kick for Lacroix, the unsung hero of this side, to head home powerfully.

The atmosphere ramped up a notch and the question was whether Palace could capitalise.

Kamada was finding pockets of space in midfield and controlling things, while Sarr, Strand Larsen and Guessand continually caused trouble with their relentless running in behind

Chris Richards went close twice and Sarr and Guessand squandered golden opportunities, yet when that second goal didn’t come the tension ramped up.

Dean Henderson, on his 100th appearance for this club, had barely had a touch but given the tense nature of this game, he remained on high alert. Lacroix, Richards and Jaydee Canvot held firm.

A failure to take their chances almost cost Palace when Tomi Juric agonisingly headed wide for Zrinjski in injury time, before Guessand finally settled things after a one-two with Brennan Johnson to secure his side’s passage to the last-16. 

Palace fans can continue to dream about a trip to Leipzig in May.