Crystal Palace secured their place in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals with a dramatic 2-1 aggregate victory over AEK Larnaca. Ismaila Sarr proved to be the hero for the Eagles, scoring twice in the second leg to overcome Cypriot opposition in a match that featured two red cards, a late penalty scare, and extra-time drama.

The London club will now face Fiorentina in the quarter-finals, a significant step up in competition that will test Palace's European credentials. Sarr opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a well-timed run behind the defense, giving Palace an early advantage. However, the game remained tense throughout, with Larnaca equalizing through Enric Saborit's header with 30 minutes remaining.

The turning point came when Saborit received a second yellow card for pulling Sarr's shirt, reducing Larnaca to 10 men. Despite their numerical advantage, Palace couldn't find a winner in normal time as the Cypriot side defended resolutely. The breakthrough finally came nine minutes into extra-time when Sarr converted from close range after sustained pressure. The drama continued when a penalty was initially awarded for handball against Jean-Philippe Mateta, only to be overturned by VAR. Larnaca's Petros Ioannou was then sent off for a high challenge on Mateta, leaving the hosts with nine players.

Palace's European journey continues despite the nervy finish, with the quarter-final first leg scheduled for April 9. The Eagles have shown resilience throughout this campaign and will need to elevate their performance against Fiorentina to progress further in the competition.