Palace 2-2 KuPS: Glasner’s youth show amid Premier League focus as February playoff ties loom

Crystal Palace were held to a 2-2 draw by KuPS at Selhurst Park on Thursday, a result that leaves the Eagles 10th in the Conference League group and means two additional playoff fixtures in February. Oliver Glasner rotated his squad heavily, naming 11 changes as Palace prepared to follow the KuPS clash with a Premier League trip to Leeds and a Carabao Cup visit to Arsenal next week.

Palace handed first-team debuts to Joel Drakes-Thomas, 16, Dean Benamar, 17, and George King, 18, along with Kaden Rodney in a bid to balance a congested schedule with fresh legs. The quartet looked at home in the first half, with Benamar driving down the left and King weaving into dangerous areas. Christantus Uche gave Palace the lead in the sixth minute with an outside-of-the-foot finish, a moment underscored by Glasner’s praise for the academy players’ performance in their first exposure to this level. Glasner noted the youngsters showed promise but were clearly not fully accustomed to the intensity, with several cramping after around 60 minutes.

KuPS struck back after the break, hitting two goals in quick succession to overturn the lead, with Devenny scoring in the 76th minute to put the visitors 2-1 ahead. Palace pressed for an equaliser and eventually found it late on, earning a 2-2 draw that preserves the visitors’ situation but leaves Palace to navigate two February playoff ties. The draw means Palace will meet either Sigma Olomouc of the Czech Republic or Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar in a two-leg playoff slated for February. The result also extends Palace’s European run into the new year, highlighting Glasner’s decision to use a mixed approach between domestic duties and continental responsibilities.

Uche, who had started, produced another eye-catching display and his goal remains a reminder of why Glasner has continued to lean on him when available. The Nigerian forward had previously appeared briefly in the summer but had only limited involvement before producing a standout performance against Shelbourne last week, which included a goal and an assist. After the match, Glasner lauded Uche’s continued impact and his willingness to serve as an alternate for the squad’s more established attackers, saying, “He could have scored two or three but it was a good performance. It’s important we have him as an alternative for the others.”

Glasner has repeatedly argued that the season’s unprecedented schedule requires a pragmatic approach to selection. With Palace sitting fifth in the Premier League, he asserted that his immediate priority was steering the team through the Conference League phase while keeping the league campaign on track. The plan appears to hinge on maintaining a competitive balance between the two competitions, hoping to preserve energy for key league matches as the January transfer window approaches. The manager also left the door open to January additions, acknowledging the need to bolster a squad stretched by fixture congestion and injuries as the club looks to sustain a push for Europe next season.

The February playoff draw adds a new layer of pressure to an already packed calendar, and Glasner’s approach will be tested as he weighs the value of continued rotation against the risk of disruption to the team’s cohesion. While some fans may question prioritising league duties over a European tie, Glasner’s comments in recent weeks emphasize a belief that a strong league position and a deep European run can go hand in hand if managed carefully. The club’s short-term objective remains clear: navigate February’s two playoff ties, secure a favorable path in the competition, and build momentum for the rest of the season. }