Zrinjski Mostar 1-1 Crystal Palace: Eagles Held Despite Ismaila Sarr Brilliance in Midfield

Crystal Palace will be gutted for failing to put the match to bed in the first leg itself. Well, credit goes to the home side for putting up a valiant effort and going close to putting up an upset in the 1st leg of the UEFA Conference League. However, what looked comfortable on paper turned into a far more complicated contest, as the hosts refused to fade and forced Palace to dig deep for control.

The first half belonged to structure rather than chaos. Crystal Palace found their breakthrough through Ismaïla Sarr after neat work from Jorgen Strand Larsen, but even at 1-0, the game never truly felt settled. Zrinjski were brave in transition and showed flashes of danger, particularly on the counter, keeping the Eagles honest heading into the break.

Then came the twist. Karlo Abramovic’s sharp finish early in the second half dragged the tie level and injected belief into the home crowd. For a spell, Palace looked rattled. Adam Wharton rattled the crossbar, VAR briefly paused hearts over a potential handball, and chances came at both ends. In the end, Palace’s control in key moments and superior composure proved decisive. It wasn’t flawless, but it was enough.

Here are the full Zrinjski Mostar vs Crystal Palace player ratings from an evenly contested encounter.

Key Takeaways

• Ismaila Sarr was Palace’s most decisive threat in transition.
• Karlo Abramovic punished Palace’s lapse with a sharp, confident finish.
• Oliver Glasner’s in-game adjustments helped steady Palace after the equaliser.

Zrinjski Mostar Player Ratings vs Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace Player Ratings vs Zrinjski Mostar