Crystal Palace’s first-ever European fixture at Selhurst Park ended with a win, but the scoreline was closer than many had expected.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s second-half header proved the difference as the Eagles edged Norwegian visitors Fredrikstad 1-0 in the first leg of their Europa Conference League play-off.
It was a historic evening in South London, with Selhurst Park hosting continental football for the first time. Yet the build-up was dominated by off-field matters. Eberechi Eze, the club’s talismanic playmaker, was withdrawn from the squad amid an imminent transfer to Arsenal.
His absence loomed large across the 90 minutes, as Oliver Glasner’s side carved out 25 attempts on goal but lacked the cutting edge to build a commanding lead ahead of next week’s return leg in Norway.
The tone of the night was set early. Palace controlled possession from the first whistle, Fredrikstad dropping into a compact shape and relying heavily on long throws and rare counter-attacks to relieve pressure.
Marc Guehi, captaining the side and pushing forward from centre-back, was improbably Palace’s most creative force in the opening period.
He produced three efforts on goal and two key passes in a first half that underlined both his technical ability and Palace’s struggle to unlock the visitors without Eze.
The Eagles created plenty but wasted repeatedly. Guehi himself sent a header over from a long throw, Mateta had a left-footed strike saved by goalkeeper Borsheim, while Jefferson Lerma and Adam Wharton both fired off-target from promising positions.
The clearest chance fell to Mateta, whose powerful strike deflected onto the post, leaving Selhurst groaning in unison.
Fredrikstad, despite offering little going forward, almost stole the lead against the run of play. Midway through the first half, Sorlokk burst down the left and squared into a dangerous area, only for the ball to ricochet awkwardly off his striker and wide from point-blank range.
It was a huge let-off for Palace and a reminder that European football punishes profligacy.
Second-Half Heroics
Goalless at the break, tension grew. Glasner’s frustration was evident as he marched down the tunnel early, knowing his side were dominating without reward.
The second half began in much the same fashion, Palace forcing errors high up the pitch but failing to apply the final touch. Devenny, handed Eze’s attacking midfield role, squandered a glorious headed chance from Guehi’s cross.
Relief finally arrived in the 54th minute. A long throw once again unsettled the Fredrikstad defence, the ball eventually falling to Will Hughes, whose volley was redirected cleverly by Mateta into the net.
It was a historic strike – Palace’s first in European competition – and it briefly transformed the atmosphere into a carnival.
But the floodgates did not open. Mateta continued to trouble the defence, Hughes and Odsonne Edouard combined well for openings, and Daniel Munoz struck the post with a back-post header.
Yet for all the pressure, Palace could not find the elusive second goal that would have provided real breathing space.
The closing minutes brought anxiety. Substitute Skogvold broke free in stoppage time and had the chance to level, only to drag his shot wide of Dean Henderson’s post. Selhurst Park exhaled in relief, the narrow advantage intact.
A 1-0 lead gives Palace something to defend in Norway, but Glasner knows his team’s wastefulness leaves the tie finely poised.
With Eze set to depart and Guehi also the subject of transfer speculation, the Eagles will need to sharpen their finishing if they are to secure a place in the league phase.
