Palace held by KuPS as Conference League top eight slips away
Crystal Palace missed out on direct qualification to the UEFA Conference League quarterfinals after a 2-2 draw with Finnish champions KuPS at Selhurst Park.
Oliver Glasner’s side looked set for a comfortable night when Christantus Uche struck early, but goals from Piotr Parzyszek and Ibrahim Cisse turned the contest around and forced Palace into a playoff position in the league phase.
Justin Devenny’s late header restored parity after KuPS were reduced to ten men, yet the equaliser was not enough to secure the win Palace needed to finish inside the top eight.
With Leeds awaiting on Saturday and two matches scheduled inside 48 hours, Glasner rang the changes, making 11 alterations to his starting lineup. The reshuffle handed opportunities to youth, with 16-year-old Joél Drakes-Thomas becoming the club’s fourth youngest player, while academy prospects Dean Benamar and George King also made their senior debuts.
Despite limited preparation time together, Palace dominated the opening period. The hosts controlled possession, dictated tempo, and repeatedly found space against visitors who were midway through their offseason.
Uche set the tone inside six minutes with a moment of quality, curling a precise finish into the corner after a slick exchange down the right flank. The Nigerian forward remained central to everything Palace created, stretching the KuPS back line and forcing hurried clearances.
Chances followed in waves. Drakes-Thomas pounced on defensive hesitation before the ball broke to Uche, whose effort was blocked by Cisse at a crucial moment. Uche then wriggled into the area but could not get his shot away, while Romain Esse dragged an effort narrowly wide as pressure mounted.
The second half began in similar fashion, with Benamar opting to pass rather than shoot when clean through, a decision that proved costly. Moments later, KuPS levelled with their first real attack. Otto Ruoppi surged through an exposed midfield and, after Saku Savolainen’s pass, Parzyszek guided a composed finish beyond the goalkeeper.
Three minutes later, Palace were behind. A corner caused panic in the home defence, and Cisse reacted quickest to prod Clinton Antwi’s effort over the line.
Glasner responded on the hour, introducing Will Hughes, Marc Guéhi, and Tyrick Mitchell to steady the game. The changes brought structure, though Palace were briefly spared when Parzyszek had a second goal ruled out for offside.
The turning point arrived when Antwi was sent off for a reckless challenge on Hughes, handing Palace numerical advantage. They made it count quickly, with Mitchell delivering a deep cross to the far post where Devenny rose to head home in the 77th minute.
Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah were thrown on as Palace pushed relentlessly for a winner. The chances came, the crowd responded, but KuPS held firm under sustained pressure.
The draw leaves Palace facing a playoff route in the Conference League, adding extra fixtures to an already demanding schedule. For Glasner’s side, the task now is to regroup quickly and turn control into cutting edge when it matters most.