‘Ismaila Sarr has confidence to score’ – Oliver Glasner

Crystal Palace coach Oliver Glasner heaped praise on Senegal striker Ismaila Sarr after he scored a brace to help the Premier League outfit defeat AEK Larnaca 2-1 in the UEFA Conference League in Cyprus on Thursday.

Palace earned a hard-fought 2-1 aggregate win in Larnaca to secure a place in the last eight of the competition. Two goals from Ismaila Sarr won the day, but that doesn’t tell the full story of a dramatic night that also saw the tie go to extra-time and the home side receive two red cards.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Crystal Palace Football Club (@cpfc)

The former Stade Rennais, Watford, and Olympique de Marseille player got the game off to a flying start at the AEK Arena, opening the scoring in the 13th minute.

It was his 14th goal of the season, a personal best . But the determined Cypriots equalised through Enric Sabor (63rd minute). It took a late goal from Sarr in extra time (99th minute) to secure the victory and qualification for Palace, who now advanced to the Europa League quarterfinals.

‘I’m not really surprised’

Speaking after the game, Glasner preserved praise for two goal-hero Sarr, who in the process scored his 14th and 15th goals of the campaign.

“It’s a great season. Honestly, I’m not really surprised. I predicted it before the season,” Glasner told Crystal Palace website.

“He had a great season last year without pre-season, without being in a rhythm. He started slow, which was completely normal. He wasn’t allowed to train at Marseille. He wasn’t allowed to play at Marseille. Then, he showed how good he is.

“Now he knows exactly how we want to play. He knows where to move, where to run. He’s in the pocket. He makes runs in behind. He always gets his chances in there. He has the confidence to score.

“He’s in fantastic shape and it’s great for us to have him.”

Sarr surpasses own record

Sarr further surpassed his record for a single club season: 13 goals with Watford in 2020-21 and 13 goals with Stade Rennais in 2018-19 campaign.

He made his senior debut for Senegal in 2016, and went on to represent his side at the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, as well as at the 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, winning the 2021 and 2025 tournaments.

Crystal Palace will next face Fiorentina in the quarterfinals after the Italian club overcame Poland’s Raków Częstochowa 4-2 on aggregate. In the Premier League, their next fixture is at home against Newcastle on April 11 following the upcoming FIFA window.