Crystal Palace 1-0 Fredrikstad: Eze-less Eagles secure first ever European win | OneFootball

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s goal proved to be the difference between the two sides as Crystal Palace got their first ever win in a European competition.

However, with 75% possession and 25 attempts, Oliver Glasner and his side will be wondering how they haven’t taken a bigger lead to Norway next week.

The Eagles lacked that little bit of star power to put the game to bed with Eberechi Eze absent tonight after a transfer agreement reportedly being made with Arsenal.

As it happened

Selhurst Park was bouncing before kick-off as the Palace fans watched their team play in Europe for the first time since 1998. It might not be the competition they hoped they’d be in after getting bumped down to the Conference League but it was a European competition nonetheless.

Despite the loud atmosphere, it was a quiet start to the game from both sides. Fredrikstad clearly set up in a low block and, with the absence of Eze, there was a lack of creativity from the home side.

The Eagles then came to life in the 20th minute. Firstly, Jefferson Lerma struck from distance but it whistled just wide of the post. Then it was Adam Wharton’s turn on the half-volley, but his effort was straight into the keepers hands.

Palace ended the half on the front foot, with Mateta getting the best chance as his volley smashed into the post and, just moments later, the Norwegian side started to show a few more cracks as Ismaïla Sarr found space at the backpost and headed towards goal, only to be denied by Martin Børsheim.

After a dominant start to the second half, it was the big man Mateta, who looped a header into the back of the net to score the Eagles’ first ever European goal. The Frenchman is now just two goals away from hitting 50 for the South-London side.

The home side then had a flurry of chances, with Daniel Muñoz’ header being the pick of the bunch as the post denied Palace their second of the evening.

With the final whistle blown, Glasner’s side will take a narrow one-goal lead to Norway next week where Fredrikstad will look to use the home crowd to their advantage.

The lineups

CRY: Henderson; Guéhi, Lacroix, Lerma, Sosa, Hughes, Wharton, Muñoz, Devenny, Sarr, Mateta

FFK: Børsheim; Wolezdi, Fredriksen, S. Owusu, Molde, Eid, Sørløkk, Metcalfe, L. Owusu, Øhlenschæger, Holten