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crystal Palace They will enter the UEFA Conference League play-offs after a 2–2 draw against Finnish champions KuPS at Selhurst Park, denying them direct qualification to the round of 16.
Oliver Glasner’s team initially took the lead through a brilliant strike from Kristantas Uche, but KuPS responded with goals from Piotr Przemyszk and Ibrahim Cissé, overturning Palace’s advantage.
Justin Deveney scored the equalizer for the Eagles in the 77th minute, shortly after KUPS’s Clinton Antwi was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle on Will Hughes.
Despite the numerical advantage, Palace could not score the winning goal needed to make the top eight in the league stage.
Manager Glasner made 11 changes to his starting line-up, acknowledging the tough schedule which will see his side play two matches within 48 hours, with the next being away to Leeds United on Saturday.
Sixteen-year-old Joel Drax-Thomas became their fourth-youngest player to pull on the shirt and also made debuts for fellow academy teenagers Dean Benamar and George King, although the bench was rich in experience.
Glassner revealed that for a team that had barely trained together, Palace looked comfortable in a one-sided first half, with not many goals being scored.
Uche opened the scoring with a superb finish in the sixth minute after a brilliant passing interchange down the right flank, the Nigerian forward finding a corner with a curling shot with the outside of his right foot.
The goal allayed any concerns as Palace controlled the rest of the half, creating a series of half-chances against opponents who were playing out of season.
Drax-Thomas snatched the ball from the flailing home defense and it fell to Uche, who was kept out by Cisse with a vital block.
Uche was unable to take a shot as he entered the penalty area and then Romain Essé dragged a shot wide.
The pressure on the KUPS goal continued in the second half, Benmar tried to pass instead of shoot while running towards goal and it proved to be a costly mistake as the visitors equalized shortly after.
It was all too easy as Otto Ruoppi charged through a non-existent Palace midfield and Saku Savolainen delivered the final pass, with Przeciszek firing a fine shot into the corner.
KuPS were rewarded for their first meaningful attack of the game and took the lead three minutes later when Cisse deflected Clinton Antwi’s strike into the net as the home defense failed to deal decisively with a corner.
In the 63rd minute, Hughes, Marc Guhy and Tyrick Mitchell were brought on to strengthen the midfield and defence, which had begun to trouble the Finns, while Przeszek had a second goal ruled out for offside.
Kups suffered a blow when Antwi was shown a red card and Palace equalized moments later when Mitchell crossed the far post for Justin Devaney to nod home.
Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah came on and despite sustained late pressure, the winner proved elusive.