Report & Highlights: Palace secure European progression as league phase awaits

Summary:

• Three changes for Palace as Lerma, Sosa and Kamada come into the side that drew with Nottingham Forest, Fredrikstad are unchanged from the first leg
• 10: Richards heads over from Palace’s first corner
• 17: Lerma sees a shot comfortably saved from edge of the area
• 32: Mateta’s flying header is well saved
• HT: Fredrikstad 0-0 Palace
• 70: Richards heads wide from Sosa free-kick
• 77: Fredrikstad’s Øhlenschlæger heads over from close range
• 90+2: Substitute Devenny nearly seals it but fires over
• FT: Fredrikstad 0-0 (0-1 agg) Palace
• Palace qualify for the UEFA Conference League tournament proper, with the draw for the league phase taking place on Friday.

The Eagles will now take their place in Friday’s league phase draw after securing victory in the play-off round. The goalless draw in Norway also made it 13 matches unbeaten in all competitions, ensuring Oliver Glasner's team have equalled a club record.

Palace were looking to secure qualification in the second-half of the tie, after winning the first leg by a single goal at Selhurst Park last week.

The early stages were cagey, with those wearing Eagle Gold seeing plenty of the ball, but also having to adjust to the demands of the artificial surface.

A first chance for the Eagles arrived when Borna Sosa’s corner was met by Chris Richards in the 10th minute, the American unable to keep his header down from close-range.

Fredrikstad did show intent with a couple of long-throws early on, while Emil Holten flashed a header wide from their first corner of the evening.

Restored to a midfield role, Jefferson Lerma then had Palace’s first effort on target, only to see it comfortably saved by Martin Børsheim – Lerma unable to generate the required power after a flowing team move.

At the other end, the Norwegians were committing more bodies forward than in the first leg, but without truly working Dean Henderson consistently.

Forward Jean-Philippe Mateta was next to test Børsheim with a flicked header that was well saved. This was immediately followed by a big scare at the other end, another long-throw causing confusion but Stian Molde unable to make clean contact for the hosts.

That was as close as Fredrikstad came to getting level on aggregate, in a first-half short on chances.

But the hosts slowly upped their intensity as the game went on, with the noise levels inside a sold-out Fredrikstad Stadion also increasing.

Skipper Marc Guéhi nearly picked out Ismaïla Sarr in a good position just before the hour, only for Børsheim to again react quickly and snuff out the danger, before Maxence Lacroix’s effort cleared the crossbar.

His defensive partner Richards would go close again in the 70th minute, heading just wide from Sosa’s pinpoint free-kick delivery.

In truth, the latter stages in southern Norway saw neither side particularly threaten, any nervy moments for Palace quickly resolved by some commanding play from Henderson.

Fredrikstad substitute Henrik Skogvold did have sight of goal in injury time, but sliced his volley without troubling Palace’s No. 1. While at other end substitute Justin Devenny nearly made a dramatic impact, only to fire over, before Mateta was denied when through one-on-one in the dying seconds.

In the end it was a case of job done for Glasner’s side, who can now look forward to tomorrow’s draw for the group phase of the Conference League.

There the Eagles will learn of our six opponents, who we will face between October and December.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Muñoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi, Sosa (Mitchell, 78), Lerma, Wharton, Sarr, Kamada (Devenny, 92), Mateta.

Subs: Matthews (GK), Benítez (GK), Clyne, Cardines, Esse.

Fredrikstad: Borsheim (GK), S. Owusu (Kvile, 70), Fredriksen, Woledzi, Eid, Metcalfe, L. Owusu (Bjartalid, 70), Sorlokk (Hummelvoll-Nunez, 60), Molde, Ohlenschlaeger (Shein, 81), Holten (Skogvold, 60).

Subs: Ovretveit (GK), Langbraten (GK), Okpaleke, Rafn, Begby, Solberg, Granaas.

AS IT HAPPENED