Crystal Palace 2-1 Fiorentina: Eagles reach first-ever European semi-final despite defeat in Florence | OneFootball

Crystal Palace fell to a 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina in the UEFA Conference League quarter-final second leg on Thursday evening.

Despite the result, they have qualified for the semi-final, having won 4-2 on aggregate.

They started the game brightly and almost broke the deadlock in the seventh minute. The ball fell kindly to an unmarked Daniel Munoz inside the area, but the full-back failed to hit the target.

Munoz later set up the opening goal in the 17th minute, delivering a cross into the box where Ismaila Sarr was waiting to plant a header into the net.

Moments later, Sarr almost doubled Palace’s lead with a powerful strike, but was denied by goalkeeper David de Gea.

Fiorentina were awarded a penalty just before half-hour mark. Albert Gudmundsson converted the spot-kick, sending Dean Henderson the wrong way.

Henderson made a crucial save before half-time, denying Tottenham Hotspur loanee Manor Solomon from giving the hosts the lead.

However, the English goalkeeper could not prevent Cher Ndour’s long-range strike from breaching his goal in the 53rd minute, giving the hosts a 2-1 lead.

Henderson made a good save to deny Gudmundsson his second of the night after the hour mark.

Fiorentina cranked up the pressure late on, but the Eagles held on to their aggregate advantage, qualifying for their first ever European semi-final.