Crystal Palace Stumble in Final Conference League Group Match | OneFootball

Once again, Crystal Palace faced an European foe against whom they were heavily favored, and came up short, drawing 2 – 2 to KuPS.

Coming into this sixth and final match in the UEFA Conference League, Palace sat in 9th place. Their opponent, the Finnish champions, had six points, but were sitting on the wrong-side of the relegation line in 25th place. For Palace, a win would secure a much needed automatic qualification. For KuPS, a win would mean advancing to the playoffs.

Rough Schedule

Between the final 2025 International Break and the New Year, Palace have the tightest match schedule of any Premier League team, with 12 games in six weeks. In fact, Palace takes the pitch at Elland Road 48 hours after this fixture. Oliver Glasner, in his pre-match comments, acknowledged the challenge this tight window presents: “We play against Leeds in just two days’ time so we will have to use the squad to get through both games.” He went on to state that anyone starting this match would not be starting on Saturday.

New, Young Faces

As a result, his starting eleven at Selhurst Park featured many unfamiliar names and faces. The average side of the squad was a smooth-cheeked 22.3 years. Four of them were teenagers. In fact, if you remove the two “veteran” players (keeper Walter Benítez and center-back Jefferson Lerma), the average age plummets to 20.2! Four academy players were called upon to make their first team debuts: Joel Drakes-Thomas (left wing, 16 yo), George King (right back, 18yo), Dean Benamar (left midfield, 17 yo) and Kaden Rodney (center midfield, 21 yo).

Crystal Palace’s starting formation. Source: ESPN.com

In the first half, Palace’s youth was on display with some errant passing, casual giveaways and two needless yellow cards. However, they were the stronger side, controlling the ball and pace of play. With some slick passing, they created a number of chances, in particular a delicious through ball from Romain Esse to a rampaging Christianus Uche. The 22 year-old Nigerian put Palace on the scoreboard with a breathtaking shot with the outside right foot that curled into the net before the 5th minute. If not for the defensive prowess of KuPS’ Ibrahim Cissé, the Eagles could have been up by two or three. KuPS didn’t register a single shot.

Second Half Stumble

Palace’s first fumble came in the 5th minute of the second half, as KuPS carved through the Palace defensive lines to set up Piotr Parzyszek for a rocket shot that powered through Benítez’s hands. It was their first shot. It would get worse only three minutes later, as KuPS’ first corner was punched away by Benítez, but straight to Clinton Antwi. His soft, rolling shot was deflected by Ibrahim Cissé and into the net. Suddenly, all of Crystal Palace’s sharpness in the first half looked woefully dull. Those two goals flipped Palace’s position from 4th to 15th.

Veteran Recovery

In the 63rd minute, Palace reached into their bench. Lerma gave way to Marc Guéhi; Tyreek Mitchell replaced Sosa (who was on a yellow); Will Hughes subbed for Benamar (who was cramping). This invigorated the host side, and they got an additional break when Antwi tried to sever Hughes’ leg at the knee, drawing a straight red for his efforts. This gave the Eagles 17 minutes to find an equalizer. Three minutes later, an unmarked Justin Devenny slipped in front of the flat-footed KuPS defender and slammed the ball home with his head. 

Before the kickoff, Mateta and Nketiah came on to add some attacking punch. Palace completely dominated the remaining quarter-hour but despite a half-dozen efforts, couldn’t place one past the harried KuPS goalkeeper Johannes Kreidl.

Where They Stand

For KuPS, that point proved a life-saver. They finished in 21st, and will have at least two more games in the competition.

But the draw meant Palace earned 10 points, slipping them down to 10th place in the table. No automatic qualification for them; they will have to contest a two-legged playoff.

Palace supporters will be excited at the spark exhibited by their young, largely untested, starters. For most of the first half they were energetic, creative and on the front foot. Drakes-Thomas and Benamar were particularly excellent, as was Romain Esse.

However, the Eagles’ lack of ruthlessness in the first half tells that all too familiar tale. And now the team must play two extra games in an already crammed season as a result.