Bosnia and Hercegovina forward Riad Bajic delivered a decisive blow as AEK Larnaca pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday.
Bajic’s second-half strike propelled the Cypriot side to second place in the group standings, trailing only Fiorentina after two rounds.
For Palace, the night was one to forget. The English side suffered their first-ever home defeat in European competition, leaving them languishing in 18th place. Coach Oliver Glasner expressed his disappointment after the match, telling TNT Sports, “When you play in Europe, you have to understand that small mistakes get punished.” Despite his frustration, Glasner tried to stay optimistic, adding, “We are frustrated and it hurts, but it’s the second game and the way we played was OK.”
Before halftime, Palace came close to taking the lead twice, with Jean-Philippe Mateta rattling the crossbar and later missing a header from close range. But the hosts were left stunned when Bajic found the net in the 51st minute, and despite a wave of late attacks, Palace couldn’t find an equaliser.
Elsewhere in the competition, AEK Athens produced a dominant display with a 6-0 thrashing of Aberdeen, as Mauritania’s Aboubakary Koita scored twice. The Scottish side endured their heaviest defeat in European football since debuting in continental competition in 1967. In Sweden, Romania’s right-back Andrei Ratiu rescued a point for Rayo Vallecano with a 103rd-minute equaliser in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Hacken. Meanwhile, Sparta Prague’s clash with Rijeka was called off due to severe weather conditions.
What You Should Know
AEK Larnaca’s remarkable win over Crystal Palace marked one of the biggest upsets of the UEFA Conference League so far.
Riad Bajic’s composed finish handed the Cypriot club a vital victory, while Oliver Glasner’s Palace were left to rue missed opportunities. The result exposes the harsh realities of European football, where even small lapses can prove costly.
Meanwhile, AEK Athens’ dominant 6-0 victory and Rayo Vallecano’s dramatic draw added to a night of thrilling action across the continent.
