Crystal Palace will head back to Selhurst Park with work still to do after being held to a 1 1 draw by Zrinjski Mostar in the first leg of their Conference League playoff tie.
The Premier League side controlled large stretches of the match, enjoying over 70 percent possession and creating the clearer chances, but they were unable to translate dominance into a decisive advantage. Ismaila Sarr gave Palace the lead just before half time, yet a second half lapse allowed the hosts to level and keep the tie finely balanced.
Palace started on the front foot and nearly struck early when Sarr tested goalkeeper Goran Karacic inside the opening minutes. Adam Wharton also came close with a long range effort that drifted narrowly wide as Oliver Glasner’s side pressed with intent.
Sarr thought he had opened the scoring in the 12th minute after finishing from close range, but the goal was ruled out for offside in the buildup. Despite that setback, Palace continued to dictate the tempo and finally broke through in the 43rd minute. A sharp touch from Jorgen Strand Larsen set up Sarr, who curled a composed finish into the corner for his third goal of the Conference League campaign.
The visitors looked in control at the break, but their focus slipped early in the second half. Ten minutes after the restart, a misplaced pass in midfield allowed Zrinjski to counter. Karlo Abramovic made no mistake, drilling his shot into the far corner beyond Dean Henderson to draw the home side level.
From there, Palace pushed to regain the lead. Wharton struck the crossbar with a powerful effort from distance, while Chris Richards headed wide from a promising position following a corner. Glasner cut a frustrated figure on the touchline as his team failed to convert sustained pressure into a second goal.
There was late drama when the referee consulted the pitchside monitor to review a possible handball against Daniel Munoz inside the Palace box. After a VAR check, no penalty was awarded, allowing the Premier League side to escape a potential setback.
The result reflects a difficult period for Crystal Palace, who have struggled domestically in recent months. A competition that offered a welcome distraction instead underlined ongoing issues in turning possession into results.
With the second leg set for 26 February in south London, the tie remains evenly poised. Palace will expect to finish the job at home, but Zrinjski have shown they are capable of punishing mistakes and carrying belief into the return fixture.
