Crystal Palace and Zrinjski Mostar Draw in Conference League Play-Off First Leg

Crystal Palace and Zrinjski Mostar played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League play-off tie on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Ismaïla Sarr opened the scoring for the Premier League side, but Karlo Abramovic equalized for the Bosnian Premier League champions, leaving the tie balanced ahead of next week’s return leg at Selhurst Park.

Match Highlights

The match saw Crystal Palace dominate possession, controlling over 70% of the ball. Sarr initially found the net in the 12th minute, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside position by Chris Richards during the build-up. Palace continued to press, with Adam Wharton hitting the post shortly after.

Sarr finally broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute, assisted by Jørgen Strand Larsen, giving Crystal Palace a 1-0 lead at halftime. However, Zrinjski Mostar responded strongly at the start of the second half.

Abramovic leveled the score in the 55th minute, capitalizing on a misplaced pass from Wharton and firing a shot into the far corner. Despite further efforts from Palace, including a late attempt by Richards that went wide, they were unable to regain the lead.

Late Drama and VAR Review

In the closing stages of the match, Crystal Palace faced a nervous moment when a potential handball by Daniel Munoz was reviewed by VAR. However, the referee ultimately waved play on, and the score remained 1-1.

Glasner’s Frustration

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner expressed his frustration with his team’s inability to convert their dominance into a victory. The Eagles, who had an eight-day break following the FA Cup weekend, fielded a strong lineup including Wharton, Brennan Johnson, and Strand Larsen, but struggled to create clear-cut chances after taking the lead.

Second Leg Awaits

The second leg will take place at Selhurst Park on February 26, 2026, with a 20:00 GMT kickoff. Crystal Palace will need to improve their performance to secure a place in the Conference League knockout stages.

Key Takeaways

• Ismaïla Sarr continues to be a key attacking threat for Crystal Palace, scoring his third goal of the Conference League campaign.
• Zrinjski Mostar proved to be a resilient opponent, punishing Palace’s mistakes and securing a valuable draw.
• Crystal Palace’s struggles to convert possession into goals remain a concern.
• The tie is finely balanced, with the second leg promising to be a tense affair.