**Crystal Palace fail to convert their chances as they lose 1-0 to AEK Larnaca in their first ever European home match.**
A stunning goal from Riad Bajic six minutes into the second half sealed the win for the Cypriot side despite Jean-Phillipe Mateta missing a host of chances throughout the match.
Although the match is just the second out of eight in the UEFA Conference League league phase, the noise that vibrated through the stadium as kick-off approached had the feel of a World Cup final. Both sides had reason to be excited going into the fixture.
Crystal Palace were playing their first-ever home match in European football and the Cypriot outfit had made just their second trip to London in their history. The first time they lost 4-0 to a West Ham side that went on to win the Conference League in 2023.
Unlike the fans, the opening stages of the match were quiet. However, after Yerson Chacon was taken off on a stretcher 16 minutes in Crystal Palace found their rhythm, and they should have been ahead just four minutes later.
After Daniel Munoz won back possession on the right-hand side his cross was flapped at by Zlatan Alomerovic in the Larnaca goal straight down to Mateta whose volley from six yards out clipped the crossbar.
Palace continued to dominate possession in the first half and had two huge chances for Mateta just before the break. The first was an effort from just inside the area curled wide by the Frenchman, but the second was a golden opportunity for someone of his quality in the box. Will Hughes fizzed in a delivery into the area finding Mateta free in the centre of the box, however, his header drifted agonisingly wide of the post.
It looked as though the Eagles were starting the second half as they ended the first when Maxence Lacroix headed just wide from a corner, but it would be Larnaca that would break the deadlock with a stunning strike from Bajic.
Seven minutes into the half Palace lost possession inside their own half allowing the Bosnian to latch onto a through ball before firing a rocket into the top corner of Dean Henderson’s near post sending an already bouncing away end into raptures.
Crystal Palace did not back down after the goal and Glasner’s instant substitution, bringing on Eddie Nketiah for Jaydee Canvot epitomised their intent.
However, Palace still could not hit the back of the net despite another incredible chance falling to Mateta. An Nketiah cross fell to the French striker six yards out, but his shot was saved wonderfully by Alomerovic from point-blank range.
Nketiah would also be the culprit of missing a chance that looked easier to score than miss when his unchallenged half volley from four yards out spun wide of the post just eight minutes from time, just before an unmarked Mateta in the box failed to direct a Wharton cross home.
As the game entered its final minutes, there was time for another huge Palace chance, this time for Romain Esse who could not connect with a Daichi Kamada cross that sailed just wide of the post.
A night to forget for Crystal Palace who face Arsenal in their next match in the Premier League this weekend.