Crystal Palace lost 0-1 to Larnaca, Guehi warned his teammates
Riad Bajic's 51st-minute strike silenced Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace suffered their first defeat in the Conference League, with captain Marc Guehi admitting his shortcomings and calling on his team to learn from their mistakes.
Selhurst Park fell silent in the 51st minute when Riad Bajic pounced on a moment of lapse, sealing a 1-0 win for Larnaca and condemning Crystal Palace to their first ever Conference League defeat. On TNT Sports, captain Marc Guehi looked the other way: "They scored, we didn't. It's as simple as that." It was a cold end to a team that had dominated much of the game but failed to find a way past a disciplined counter-attacking opponent.
Drama and pivotal moments
The game was decided by a single moment: Bajic’s strike in the 51st minute. Crystal Palace controlled the game, pressing around the box, but Larnaca stuck to their compact defence and waited for the chance to counter. When a rare opening arose, the visitors took full advantage and made no mistake with the decisive finish.
Main events
For most of the game, Palace pushed high, looking to break down Larnaca’s multi-layered defence. Their attacks continued to get the ball close to the 18-yard box, but lacked the final touch and passing ability. Larnaca, as Guehi admitted, “played a defensive counter-attack and did it very well”, patiently biding their time before striking the final blow in the 51st minute.
Late efforts could not save the situation. Selhurst Park saw Palace eager but lacking in decisive areas; Larnaca kept their discipline to preserve their fragile advantage until the final whistle.
Tactical analysis: when a low block blocks the ball
The script was clear: Palace in control, Larnaca tucked in and counter-attacked. Against a deep block, the home side needed high ball circulation and interchangeable movements to stretch the opposition’s structure. But at Selhurst Park, Palace’s build-up was not surprising enough to break through consistently, while the decisive situations lacked the necessary precision.
Pushing high up the pitch forced Palace to take risks behind their centre-backs. Larnaca waited for the right moment to penetrate that space. The 51st minute goal was an example: a quick transition from the visitors, perfectly timed, unsettled the home defensive structure and gave Bajic space to run into.
In that context, Marc Guehi’s leadership role became more important than ever: stabilising the team’s shape when they lost possession, and launching quick, precise attacks when Palace sought to accelerate. However, failing to convert their advantage into goals, any tactical adjustments were rendered impotent in front of the scoreboard.
Important statistics
- Score: Crystal Palace 0-1 Larnaca
- Goal scorer: Riad Bajic 51'
- Stadium: Selhurst Park
- Crystal Palace's first defeat in the Conference League this season
- Palace dominated most of the time but failed to materialize their chances
Post-match statement
Marc Guehi was frank: "They scored, we didn't. It's that simple. Each team has a different style of play. Today, they were a counter-attacking team and they did very well. They made it difficult for us."
The Palace captain insisted this must be a lesson: "Even though they defended well, we were still able to score. This is an opportunity for us to learn and move forward. We always believe until the end and have shown that in many different games, but today it was not enough."
"You learn a lot. It's a new experience for the club. Hopefully we can gain more experience and grow from these games and tournaments, which is really good," he added.
Impact and the Way Forward
The defeat not only ended a positive run of results at the start of the season, but also exposed a familiar problem when facing opponents who play a deep block: a lack of final ball movement. In a Conference League environment that demands concentration and efficiency in every detail, Palace must translate the lessons from Selhurst Park into tangible adjustments: a quicker passing tempo, quality decision-making in the box, and the ability to control transitions after pushing up.
With Guehi's repeated mindset of "learning and moving forward", coach Oliver Glasner's team needs to respond immediately in the upcoming matches. The test in Europe is not only to measure technique, but also to measure character: the ability to turn the 0-1 disappointment into a positive turning point for the long journey ahead.
