After all of the celebrations, this was a actuality test for Crystal Palace. Having comfortably crushed Dynamo Kyiv on their Convention League debut, the FA Cup winners had been anticipated to roll over their Cypriot counterparts within the membership's first house sport in the primary draw of a European competitors.
As a substitute Oliver Glasner's facet have been handed a harsh lesson about what it takes to achieve success at this stage as a mistake from the teenage defender Jaydee Canvot on solely his second begin since becoming a member of in the summertime allowed Larnaca to take a shock lead earlier than some stout defending saved Palace's onslaught at bay. Maybe this gained't be the procession that many had predicted after they have been demoted from the Europa League.
“We made one mistake and so they punished us,” stated Glasner. “The gamers will study from it. I do know this group. It's a irritating night time. On the opposite facet, possibly the entire setting wanted it to remain humble.”
To mark the event, Palace's followers unfurled an enormous tifo earlier than kick-off with a slight variation on the Dad's Military theme tune and was little doubt aimed toward Uefa. “We're the boys that may win your little sport,” it learn along with purple and blue arrows advancing on Leipzig, the place the ultimate of this competitors might be performed.
Palace definitely have a group able to making all of it the best way. However query marks stay over whether or not their squad can deal with the rigours of a schedule of six video games in 18 days earlier than the following worldwide break, with Glasner making solely three modifications from the thrilling draw in opposition to Bournemouth on the weekend as Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada have been rested.
Jean-Philippe Mateta spurned a golden alternative to win that with the final kick of the match and the France striker picked up the place he left off when his effort from six yards bounced up on to the crossbar after 21 minutes following an unconvincing save from Zlatan Alomerovic. Larnaca have been content material to take a seat again and absorb the stress regardless of thrashing Dutch facet AZ 4-0 of their opening match. That's one thing that Palace must get used to in a contest the place they are going to be anticipated to have the vast majority of possession. Mateta wasn't distant on two events simply earlier than the break however there was an absence of depth concerning the hosts with out their first-choice midfield pulling the strings.
Palace ought to have taken the lead straight after the restart when Maxence Lacroix one way or the other missed the goal from a Will Hughes cross. They have been made to pay instantly when Canvot gifted possession to Marcus Rohdén in his personal half and fed Riad Bajic, whose shot arrowed into Dean Henderson's high nook. Glasner instantly changed Canvot with Eddie Nketiah and switched to a again 4 however Mateta nonetheless couldn't beat Alomerovic after being introduced with one other nice probability from shut vary.
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Fast InformationAEK hit Aberdeen for six in Convention League
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Aberdeen's mini-revival was halted in demoralising trend as they crashed to a 6-0 defeat by the hands of AEK Athens within the noisy OPAP Area. Jimmy Thelin's facet arrived within the Greek capital buoyed by shifting off the underside of the Scottish Premiership following back-to-back wins over Dundee and St Mirren.
Nonetheless, their hopes of constructing additional momentum and choosing up their first Convention League factors have been destroyed because the ruthless hosts eased right into a three-goal half-time lead. AEK continued within the ascendancy after the break to depart the bedraggled Scottish facet languishing on the foot of the desk with no factors and a objective distinction of minus seven. Thelin made two modifications to the facet that began in Paisley on Saturday as Topi Keskinen and Marko Lazetic changed Gavin Molloy and Kevin Nisbet, whereas the previous Hearts left-back James Penrice began for AEK.
Regardless of a promising begin from Aberdeen, AEK went forward within the eleventh minute as Aboubakary Koïta stepped away from Graeme Shinnie and fired a low left-footed strike throughout Dimitar Mitov and into the far nook from simply outdoors the field. Aberdeen utterly misplaced their manner thereafter as AEK turned the screw.
Shortly after defender Filipe Relvas headed in opposition to a submit from a Penrice free-kick, the house facet doubled their lead within the 18th minute. It got here from a counterattack after the Aberdeen pair Stuart Armstrong and Jesper Karlsson each turned down inviting taking pictures alternatives, with Koïta slotting an angled shot past Mitov after being fed by Lazaros Rota.
AEK's third got here when Niclas Eliasson produced a cool end from 10 yards after the house facet stole possession on the sting of the field from Jack Milne, who had been put in hassle by a needlessly dangerous cross from Mitov. Boos have been audible from the travelling assist at half-time however AEK's dominance remained after the break and Razvan Marin produced an acrobatic close-range end in after Frantzdy Pierrot's effort rebounded off a submit.
Additional targets within the closing 10 minutes from the substitutes Luka Jovic, who outfoxed Mitov from six yards, and Dereck Kutesa, who went clear by means of and completed clinically, accomplished a humiliating night for the Dons and introduced contemporary stress on Thelin.
“We all know it's not acceptable … it was 6-0, however it might be extra,” stated Thelin. “Tonight, Athens uncovered us and that's what we have now to study from. So, typically, simply palms up, they win, completely deserved.” PA Media
Wharton and Kamada have been launched however it felt prefer it wasn't going to be Palace's night time when Nketiah might solely produce an air shot with the objective gaping earlier than Christantus Uche additionally didn't make contact with a Marc Guéhi cross late on. With a visit to face Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday and with not a lot time to get better, Glasner will hope that his gamers can put the frustration of struggling solely a 3rd house defeat of 2025 behind them shortly.
