Ismaila Sarr double fires Crystal Palace into historic Conference League quarter-finals | OneFootball

Crystal Palace booked their place in the Conference League quarter-finals after a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time victory over AEK Larnaca, with Ismaila Sarr scoring twice to seal progression.

The tie had been level following a goalless first leg in south London, leaving everything to play for in Cyprus.

Palace made the perfect start when Sarr opened the scoring in the 13th minute.

The Senegal forward capitalised on a defensive error and calmly finished after rounding the goalkeeper.

That early goal appeared to settle Oliver Glasner’s side, who controlled possession for long periods.

However, Palace were unable to extend their lead and were punished in the second half.

Enric Saborit equalised for Larnaca with a powerful header from a corner in the 63rd minute.

The goal exposed Palace’s vulnerability from set-pieces and shifted momentum towards the hosts.

Larnaca’s hopes were dented shortly afterwards when Saborit was sent off for a second yellow card.

Despite their numerical advantage, Palace struggled to find a winner in normal time.

The visitors created chances late on but lacked the composure to finish the tie before extra time.

The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 99th minute.

Sarr struck again from close range, converting a low cross from Daichi Kamada to restore Palace’s lead.

The goal proved decisive as Larnaca’s resistance faded under pressure.

The hosts were reduced to nine men late in the game when Petros Ioannou was sent off for a reckless challenge.

The closing stages were tense, with brief crowd disturbances adding to the atmosphere.

Palace came close to extending their lead further, with Sarr and his teammates hitting the woodwork.

The forward was denied a hat-trick but remained the standout performer on the night.

His two goals took his tally in the competition to five and underlined his importance to the team.

The victory marks a significant step in Palace’s European campaign.

They now advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face Fiorentina.

Glasner’s side showed resilience to overcome a stubborn opponent who had impressed defensively throughout the tournament.

While not always fluent, Palace did enough to secure progression and keep their European ambitions alive.

The result also provides a measure of revenge after their earlier defeat to Larnaca in the competition.

Palace will now look to build on this momentum as they continue their push for silverware in Europe.