Reality Check for Crystal Palace as Larnaca Steal the Show
A shocking night in South London
Crystal Palace’s European dream took a sharp turn on Thursday night as they fell 1–0 to Larnaca in the Conference League. After a confident start to their European campaign, Oliver Glasner’s men were expected to cruise at Selhurst Park — but football had other ideas.
A careless mistake from 19-year-old defender Jaydee Canvot, making only his second start for the club, handed Larnaca the lead. The visitors then stood firm, blocking wave after wave of Palace attacks to claim one of the biggest wins in their history.
Glasner didn’t hold back after the match: “We made one mistake and got punished. It’s a hard lesson, but maybe we needed it — to stay humble.”
From early promise to frustration
Palace fans created a spectacular atmosphere before kickoff with a massive tifo reading: “We are the boys that will win your little game.” The message was bold — but the performance didn’t match the confidence.
It started well enough. Palace pressed early and had Larnaca pinned back, but their finishing lacked bite. Jean-Philippe Mateta smashed a shot off the bar after 20 minutes and missed two more good chances before the break. The visitors, who had thrashed AZ Alkmaar 4–0 in their opener, soaked up pressure and waited for their moment.
A gift and a goal
The second half began with another big chance missed — Maxence Lacroix somehow firing wide from six yards out. Just moments later, disaster struck. Canvot lost the ball deep in his own half, and Marcus Rohdén quickly set up Riad Bajic, who blasted the ball into the top corner.
Palace pushed hard to respond, with Glasner throwing on Eddie Nketiah, Adam Wharton, and Daichi Kamada, but it wasn’t to be. Nketiah swung and missed with the goal gaping, and substitute Christantus Uche failed to connect with a perfect Marc Guéhi cross late on.
Lessons to learn
The defeat — only Palace’s third at home in 2025 — was a reminder that European nights demand more than just possession and pressure. With a clash against Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday, Glasner will be desperate to lift his side quickly.
Larnaca, meanwhile, will celebrate one of their most memorable wins — a night when a small Cypriot club silenced Selhurst Park and taught Crystal Palace that in Europe, every mistake matters.
