Strasbourg 2-1 Crystal Palace: Le Racing overcome Eagles and maintain unbeaten start | OneFootball

Strasbourg continued their strong start in the Europa Conference league with 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Stade de la Meinau.

Liam Rosenior’s side had to come from behind after Tyrick Mitchell gave palace the lead, before goals from Emanuel Emegha and Samir El Mourabet turned the game around.

Palace will look back at missed opportunities, as their five-match unbeaten run in all-competitions came to an end and they currently sit 18th in the Conference League’s league phase.

As it happened

Jean-Philippe Mateta looked for an early opening as he tried to chip Mike Penders in the Strasbourg net, but the keeper comfortably caught the ball.

Strasbourg’s first chance came through El Mourabet, but his left-footed strike was denied by Dean Henderson, who stuck out a leg in the near corner.

Le Racing continued attacking as Diego Moreira saw his left-footed shot slice past the left post.

The chances kept coming for the hosts, Sebastian Nanasi the latest to strike wide after a short scramble in the Palace box.

Henderson was kept busy by the visitors, and Julio Enciso was the latest to test him for distance, straight into the hands of the England international.

The Eagles struggled to get a foothold in the game, and Strasbourg continued attacking, as Emegha flashed his header wide after Moreira’s cross.

Rosenior’s side controlled possession, but Palace broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 35th minute. Mateta held the ball up on the edge of the box before offloading to Mitchell, the wing-back finishing into the bottom corner from a tight angle.

And it was nearly a quick-fire double for Oliver Glasner’s men. Penders found himself miles away from goal as his team lost possession inside their own half, but Ismaïla Sarr’s long-range strike hit the post and missed the empty net.

The FA Cup holders gathered the initiative and were clearly on top in the closing stages of the half, as Yeremy Pino’s right-footed shot was beaten away by Strasbourg’s stopper.

The half’s last chance also came from the visitors, as Daniel Muñoz nodded off-target to send the sides into the dressing room with Palace in front.

Strasbourg emerged from the interval with renewed energy and found their equaliser in the 52nd minute. A swift counter-attack culminated in a precise cross from Moreira, and captain Emegha arrived at the far post to tap the ball past Henderson.

The momentum had swung back towards Strasbourg, as Ensiso’s right-footed effort sailed past the left post.

However, Glasner’s side nearly capitalized on another Strasbourg error minutes before the hour mark. Ismaël Doukouré was dispossessed by Adam Wharton, and Penders found himself in no-man’s land once more, but the first-half substitute wasted the golden chance, booting the ball into the crossbar.

Palace grew into the second half, as Maxence Lacroix headed wide from the Palace corner.

The Eagles looked almost certain to get their lead back as Pino found himself through on goal with only Penders to beat, but the Strasbourg keeper made himself big and denied the Spaniard.

Down the other end, it was El Mourabet’s moment of glory as the 20-year-old scored his first senior goal to give Le Racing the lead in the 77th minute. The Moroccan youth international reacted first after Enciso’s free-kick bounced off the junction, guiding the ball into the empty net with Henderson down on the ground.

Strasbourg remained on the front foot in search of their third as substitute Kendry Páez skipped past his man before smashing the ball down the middle, only for Henderson to deny him with a great save.

Palace’s keeper was forced into action again, tipping Moreira’s free-kick for a corner.

The visitors still had hope for an equaliser, and Pino found himself in a useful area, his shot from outside the box elevating over the crossbar.

But it wasn’t to be. Strasbourg held out for victory and a position in the Conference League’s top two, while Crystal Palace are sat in 16th, two points off the top eight with two games left to play.

Both sides will return to domestic action at the weekend, with Strasbourg hosting Brest while Glasner’s Palace will welcome Manchester United to Selhurst Park with a bounce-back in mind.

The line-ups:

STR: Penders, Doué, Høgsberg, Sarr, Barco, Doukoure, El Mourbet, Moreira, Enciso, Nanasi, Emegha.