Ismaila Sarr’s 15-goal season is keeping Crystal Palace alive | OneFootball

After a turbulent 48 hours, Ismaila Sarr struck twice in Cyprus to send Crystal Palace past AEK Larnaca and set up a quarter-final with Fiorentina, a performance that keeps their season alive. He is now on 15 goals in all competitions.

It began with news that he and Senegal’s squad were to be stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations winners’ medals and that Morocco were to be awarded the title two months after the final. His reply was a post of six laughing emojis.

On the night, Adam Wharton’s pass in behind, via a deflection, let Sarr round Zlatan Alomerovic for the opener. The second came from Wharton’s corner, Daichi Kamada finding him to finish. Larnaca had conceded only one in the competition and had twice kept Palace out.

Sarr also drew a second yellow for Enric Saborit after 73 minutes. He might have had a hat-trick, a curler hit the bar and a late chance clipped the post after Jean-Philippe Mateta teed him up.

“He’s had a great season but I’m not surprised. Now he knows exactly how we want to play, where to move, where to run. He’s in the pocket, makes runs in behind, always gets his chances and has the confidence to score.” The interview was with Palace TV.

He has five goals in 10 Conference League games, which is barely an underperformance against his 5.18 expected goals. The quarter-final could suit him, Fiorentina are more likely to leave gaps in transition than Larnaca.

Source: NY Times