Crystal Palace secure last-four spot in Conference League despite Fiorentina loss

By Rachel Steinberg, Press Association

Crystal Palace booked their place in the semi-finals of the Conference League as a 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina saw them through 4-2 on aggregate.

Ismaila Sarr scored his seventh goal of the Eagles’ European campaign and 17th of the season to open the scoring in the first half before Albert Gudmundsson’s penalty reduced Fiorentina’s deficit back to three.

Cher Ndour gave the hosts the lead on the night eight minutes after the break, but Palace saw out the remainder of the second half to move another step closer to the Leipzig final, with a last-four meeting against Shakhtar Donetsk up next.

It was a nervier contest than the Eagles perhaps expected, and not all positive news for Palace boss Oliver Glasner, who was forced into two first-half changes following injuries to Adam Wharton and Maxence Lacroix.