Velvet classic

Mateta sinks Fredrikstad to give Crystal Palace advantage in Conference playoff

It might not be the Europa League. But even the absence of Eberechi Eze as he closes in on his £67.5m move to Arsenal could not spoil Crystal Palace’s first taste of European football as they sealed a narrow victory in the first leg of their Conference League playoff.

After a summer of uncertainty over which competition they would play in, the last thing that Oliver Glasner would have wanted was to receive a call from Eze on the morning of the game informing the Palace manager that he was not feeling well enough to play. Yet having struggled to break down well-drilled Norwegian side Fredrikstad in the first half in the absence of their talismanic England forward, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s goal calmed Palace’s nerves but they could not find a second that could have proved crucial as they attempt to secure their place in the group stages of Uefa’s third-tier competition.

Continue reading…Crystal Palace 1-0 FredrikstadPalace begin life without Eze with win over NorwegiansIt might not be the Europa League. But even the absence of Eberechi Eze as he closes in on his £67.5m move to Arsenal could not spoil Crystal Palace’s first taste of European football as they sealed a narrow victory in the first leg of their Conference League playoff.After a summer of uncertainty over which competition they would play in, the last thing that Oliver Glasner would have wanted was to receive a call from Eze on the morning of the game informing the Palace manager that he was not feeling well enough to play. Yet having struggled to break down well-drilled Norwegian side Fredrikstad in the first half in the absence of their talismanic England forward, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s goal calmed Palace’s nerves but they could not find a second that could have proved crucial as they attempt to secure their place in the group stages of Uefa’s third-tier competition. Continue reading…

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