Crystal Palace 2-2 KuPS: Eagles forced into playoffs in Conference League

In the Europa Conference League, Crystal Palace drew 2-2 to KuPS home. This game made the Eagles much more difficult to keep on their chase for this title.

Match Report

Crystal Palace will have to win a two-legged knockout phase play-off in February if they are to advance to the last 16 of the Conference League after drawing with KuPS at Selhurst Park.

With Palace kicking-off at Leeds less than 48 hours after the end of this game, boss Oliver Glasner fielded a mixture of fringe players and youngsters for the must-win match against the Finnish champions.

Sixteen-year-old Joel Drakes-Thomas became the the youngest Englishman to play in Europe's third-tier competition, while Dean Benamar, 17, and George King, 18, also made their senior debuts.

And all seemed to be going well when Christantus Uche sent Palace into a fifth-minute lead with a lovely curling finish with the outside of his boot.

That sent Palace, who started the day in ninth in the table, up into third - and an automatic last-16 place.

However, last season's FA Cup winners conceded two goals in the space of three second-half minutes early in the second half.

Former Charlton forward Piotr Parzyszek equalised from 12 yards in the 50th minute before Ibrahim Cisse put the visitors ahead for the first time.

Justin Devenny made it 2-2 with a 76th-minute header after the visitors had been reduced to 10 men when Clinton Antwi was shown a straight red card for a foul on substitute Will Hughes.

But Palace could not find and winner - and must now negotiate a two-legged play-off after finishing 10th in the table.

They will meet Czech Republic side Sigma Olomouc or Zrinjski Mostar, who play in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in the play-off.

The draw takes place on 16 January.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

5' GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-0 KuPS (Christantus Uche)

28' Match Event for Crystal Palace vs KuPS

37' Match Event for Crystal Palace vs KuPS

50' GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 KuPS (Piotr Parzyszek)

53' GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-2 KuPS (Ibrahim Cissé)

59' Match Event for Crystal Palace vs KuPS

73' Red Card! Clinton Antwi sent off

76' GOAL! Crystal Palace 2-2 KuPS (Justin Devenny)

Line-ups

Crystal Palace XI: Walter Benítez, Lerma, Borna Sosa, Justin Devenny, Kaden Rodney, Jaydee Canvot, Romain Esse, Christantus Uche, george king, Dean Benamar, Joél Drakes-Thomas

Subs: Hughes, Dean Henderson, Remi Matthews, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Guehi, Maxence Lacroix, Nketiah, Chris Richards, Yeremy, Tyrick Mitchell, Adam Wharton, Ben Casey

KuPS XI: Petteri Pennanen, Piotr Parzyszek, Saku Savolainen, Johannes Kreidl, Jaakko Oksanen, Doni Arifi, Clinton Antwi, Taneli Hämäläinen, Ibrahim Cissé, Samuli Miettinen, Otto Ruoppi

Subs: Konate, Jerry Voutilainen, Paulo Ricardo, Paulius Golubickas, Aatu Hakala, Agon Sadiku, Joslyn Luyeye-Lutumba, Miilo Pitkänen, Arttu Lötjönen, Bob Nii Armah, Mohamed Toure