Crystal Palace Topples AZ Alkmaar As Conference League Heats Up

At a packed Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace delivered a decisive performance, edging AZ Alkmaar 3‑1 to kick‑start their Conference League campaign in style.

Right off the bat, Palace looked a little uneasy; a penalty awarded early was wasted by Jean‑Philippe Mateta (saved by AZ keeper Rome‑Jayden Owusu‑Oduro).
But the hosts didn’t let that stumble define the night:

• Maxence Lacroix broke the deadlock with a fierce volley (after a lengthy VAR check) around the 22nd minute.
• Then, just before half‑time, Senegal international Ismaïla Sarr slid in for the second, giving Palace the two‑goal cushion they craved.
• AZ tried to fight back early in the second half via Sven Mijnans (deflected strike), but Sarr was quick to respond, slotting home his second and Palace’s third around the 57th minute.

What this result gave Palace: their first home win in a main stage European competition. It moves them into contention, offers momentum and – crucially – lifts a weight after their earlier group‑stage stumble.

Tactical takeaways:

• Palace’s set‑piece dominance stood out: the Lacroix goal and Sarr’s first both stemmed from dead‑ball situations.
• AZ, despite possessing more of the ball (64.7 % possession by some reports), struggled to convert pressure into goals and were punished on the break and via quick transitions.
• Sarr’s pace and off‑ball movement proved decisive – he created constant problems, even when he didn’t score.

Implications:
Palace now has six points from three games (according to table tracking) and sit in a more favorable position to aim for the knockout phase.
For AZ, the loss exposes vulnerability away from home and makes their road to qualification much harder.

Other Notable Fixtures & Storylines

While Palace’s win takes the spotlight, Matchday 3 served up several other intriguing results across the competition:

• AEK Athens vs Shamrock Rovers ended 1‑1: The Irish side were so close to a historic win before conceding a late penalty after a VAR review.
• NK Celje edged out Legia Warsaw 2‑1, picking up a valuable win in a tight group.
• KuPS Kuopio defeated Slovan Bratislava 3‑1, boosting their hopes of advancing.
• FC Noah fell to Sigma Olomouc 1‑2 at home, leaving them with work to do in their group.

These games reinforce one recurring theme of the Conference League: small margins, big consequences. A single set‑piece, offside check, or moment of concentration can tilt a group in favour of one side.

Closing Thoughts

The night belonged to Crystal Palace – not just because of the scoreline, but because of the statement they made. After the early penalty miss, they didn’t panic. Their set‑pieces worked, Sarr stepped up, and the clean transitions and defensive maturity were there for all to see.

For AZ Alkmaar, the game highlights how quickly opportunities can slip away when your opponent defends resolutely and counters sharply.

As the group phase continues, teams will look back at nights like this and think: we either took our chance or we wasted it. Palace made theirs count; others must now respond.