Match Recap: Crystal Palace 1–0 Fredrikstad
Final Score: Crystal Palace edged a 1–0 victory over Fredrikstad, marking their first-ever European competition win.
Goal: Jean-Philippe Mateta delivered the historic goal early in the second half—changing direction with a header off Will Hughes’s volley.
Performance: The Eagles dominated possession (around 74%) but struggled to break Fredrikstad’s disciplined defensive setup for much of the game. Fredrikstad nearly turned the tide late with a fast counter, narrowly missing an equalizer.
Attendance: The match drew a crowd of approximately 23,000 fans.
Off-Field Drama: Eberechi Eze’s Absence & Context
Eze Missing the Match: Star midfielder Eberechi Eze withdrew on matchday morning citing illness. His absence came amid a high-profile move to Arsenal, leaving manager Oliver Glasner surprised and forced to reshuffle the lineup.
Background: Palace's European journey began under a cloud—they were relegated from the Europa League to the Conference League due to UEFA rules around multi-club ownership involving Lyon. Their appeal via CAS failed.
Manager’s Reaction: Glasner accepted Eze’s decision but stressed the disruption's impact—particularly given it was Palace’s European debut.
What’s Next?
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Away Leg: Palace will travel to Norway for the second leg next week (likely Thursday, August 28). The Norwegian side will host on an artificial pitch.
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Tight Margin: It’s only a slender advantage, and improved creativity—especially with Eze absent—remains a concern for Glassner.
Summary Table
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Result | Crystal Palace 1–0 Fredrikstad (first European win) |
| Goal Scorer | Jean-Philippe Mateta (header from Will Hughes’s shot) |
| Performance | Dominant possession but limited creativity; late scare |
| Eze Situation | Withdrew due to illness amid imminent Arsenal move |
| Importance | Narrow lead; second leg in Norway will be decisive |