Ismaila Sarr scored twice as Crystal Palace defeated nine-man AEK Larnaca in extra time to advance to the Conference League quarterfinals.
The Senegalese attacker scored in the 13th minute, giving Oliver Glasner’s team the perfect start in Cyprus after a goalless first-leg tie in South London a week ago.
Enric Saborit, a Spanish defender, scored an equalizer in the 63rd minute after the half before being sent off 10 minutes later for a second yellow card, sending the match to extra time.
Sarr was left to make the key contribution in the 99th minute, when he steered in Daichi Kamada’s low cross from close range, setting up a meeting with Fiorentina in the final eight.
Petros Ioannou, another Larnaca defender, was sent off in the last minutes for a studs-first challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta, while home fans poured cups and other objects onto the pitch.
Palace’s triumph provided some retaliation for their league phase setback to the Cypriot side at Selhurst Park in October.
However, it was far from easy at times against a tenacious Larnaca side that had conceded only once in their previous seven games in the league.
After Sarr rounded home goalkeeper Zlatan Alomerovic to put them ahead, Palace made heavy weather of putting the game beyond the hosts, and they were punished for a defensive mistake when Saborit headed in a Marcus Rohden corner.
Only after Sarr had scored his sixth goal in the competition did Palace, boosted by their numerical advantage, threaten to break loose.
The 28-year-old also curled an effort over the Larnaca crossbar, while Jorgen Strand Larsen headed against the post as another goalmouth scramble nearly resulted in a goal.
Sarr was denied a hat-trick again as he hit the goal frame with virtually the last kick of the game.
Glasner had urged his team to be more ruthless in front of goal after 0-0 draws against Larnaca and Leeds in the Premier League the previous week.
And when Sarr latched onto Adam Wharton’s deflected pass to put Palace ahead early on, it appeared that his desire had been answered.
The forward was Palace’s major source of inspiration throughout the night, and he believed he had increased the lead midway through the first half before being properly ruled offside when he headed in Kamada’s ball from the left.
However, his team’s performance deteriorated after that.
Larnaca had barely moved out of their half when the unmarked Saborit went over Chris Richards to head in a set piece.
Sarr, on the other hand, came to the Eagles’ rescue to keep their European dream alive, and he earned his maiden senior hat-trick, with his late tries hitting the woodwork.
On this form, he appears capable of helping his departing Austrian manager leave on a high note at the end of the season, as Palace seek to become the third London club to win the Conference League crown in four years.
Crystal Palace’s next Conference League quarter-finals match vs. Fiorentina is on Thursday, April 9th.
AEK Larnaca will face APOEL in the Cypriot First Division on Sunday, March 22 (17:00 GMT).
