Crystal Palace launched their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign with a professional 2-0 victory over Bosnian side Zrinjski at Selhurst Park. Maxence Lacroix and Evann Guessand provided the goals, ensuring a dominant home performance.
The Group Stage fixture on February 26, 2026, saw Palace eager to kickstart their European journey positively. Zrinjski, the Bosnian champions, faced a tough test away from home. They aimed to defy expectations against their Premier League opponents.
The match began with a feisty atmosphere and early cautions. Crystal Palace’s Jaydee Canvot earned an early yellow card in the 12th minute for a foul. Teammate J. S. Larsen also saw yellow just before the half-hour mark for roughing, highlighting the game's competitive start.
Zrinjski’s N. Djurasek received a yellow card for holding in the 35th minute. This booking immediately preceded the game's opening goal. Crystal Palace capitalized on the momentum, scoring moments later to break the deadlock.
Maxence Lacroix broke through for Palace in the 36th minute. He finished calmly after a clever assist from Adam Wharton, rewarding the home side's sustained pressure. The goal sent a roar through the Selhurst Park faithful.
Palace pushed to extend their lead before the interval, maintaining offensive play. Zrinjski's K. Abramovic was booked for a foul in first-half stoppage time. The whistle blew with the home side leading by a single, hard-earned goal.
At halftime, Crystal Palace held a deserved one-goal advantage. They needed to maintain their control and convert more chances. Zrinjski, meanwhile, had to find a way to test the Palace goalkeeper, having not registered a single shot on target.
The second half resumed with intensity, continuing the trend of bookings. Adam Wharton quickly picked up a yellow card for Crystal Palace in the 49th minute. He was later replaced by Will Hughes in the 56th minute as Palace sought fresh legs.
Zrinjski made their first substitution after 67 minutes, bringing on M. Cuze for M. Sakota. Despite these changes, the visitors struggled to penetrate Crystal Palace’s disciplined defence. L. Mikic received a yellow card for Zrinjski in the 66th minute.
As the match entered its closing stages, Palace looked to confirm their victory. Evann Guessand entered the fray and promptly sealed the result. He netted Crystal Palace's second goal in the 90+3 minute, with Brennan Johnson providing the decisive assist.
Crystal Palace thoroughly dominated the encounter, boasting 65% ball possession throughout the game. They unleashed 14 shots, with 5 finding the target, reflecting an expected goals (xG) tally of 2.36. In contrast, Zrinjski mustered only 4 total shots, none on target, and a low xG of 0.33, underscoring Palace's control.
This professional 2-0 win ensures Crystal Palace begin their UEFA Europa Conference League journey with three valuable points. The clean sheet and confident performance set a strong foundation for their upcoming European fixtures and overall group ambitions.
