Crystal Palace failed to secure direct qualification for the last 16 of the UEFA Conference League as they were held by Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS).
The point meant that Palace finished 10th in the 36-team league and reached the knockout play-off round, where they face a two-legged tie against Zrinjski Mostar or SK Sigma Olomouc.
Palace were on track to avoid an extra two matches in February within five minutes. Christantus Uche showcased a remarkable piece of skill to cut inside, dumbfounding the KuPS backline, before slicing his right-footed strike into the top corner with the outside of his boot.
Absolutely brilliant 💫
Christantus Uche gives Crystal Palace the lead with an incredible finish 🙌
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/HLHEX6e8fw— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 18, 2025
However, KuPS, whose place in the competition was on the line, were inspired and mustered an incisive passing move to level five minutes after half time, as Piotr Parzyszek hammered Saku Savolainen’s cutback beyond Walter Benítez.
Less than three minutes later, KuPS completed their comeback when Benítez punched away a corner he should have claimed. The ball dropped to Clinton Antwi on the edge of the box, whose attempt was poked goalbound by Ibrahim Cissé, leaving Benítez – already diving to cover the initial shot – helpless.
With Palace dropping as low as 15th in the Conference League, there was still drama to follow. Antwi was dismissed for a high and reckless challenge on Will Hughes with 18 minutes left on the clock.
The red card galvanised Oliver Glasner’s side, who levelled proceedings when Tyrick Mitchell looped a cross to the backpost and Justin Devenny headed in. The Northern Ireland international, who rescued a point for the Eagles, had two golden chances to claim all three in the final ten minutes.
Here are Bobby Manzi’s talking points from Selhurst Park.
New Kids on the Block
It was a special night as three academy debutants lined up together in a European contest. A sentence many would have laughed at 12 months ago.
George King, Dean Benamar and Joél Drakes-Thomas all made their professional debuts from the start against KuPS.
King, an 18-year-old centre-back, was composed on debut – especially in possession. A boyhood Palace fan, he was unafraid of stepping into midfield and carrying the ball forward on the right of the back three.
He made a few timely interventions too, cleverly intercepting before roaming into the KuPS half to draw a foul and win a free-kick. Lasting 77 minutes, he adjusted to professional football adeptly.
At left wing-back, Benamar was especially exciting. Although he was forced off with cramp in the 65th minute, the England youth international did not look out of place in the first half.
Benamar was perseverant up and down the left flank, reminiscent of the unrelenting Daniel Munoz. His end-product was efficient, delivering a few good crosses into the penalty area.
Defensively he was strong, but his biggest strength was constantly running to put the yards in. If he could stretch that energy over 90 minutes, then Palace could have a gem on their hands.
Benamar could have marked his professional debut with his first senior goal, had he shown a little more belief when unmarked in the penalty area and taken the shot himself, rather than opting to pass to Christantus Uche, who was already well covered by the KuPS defence.
“Dean had an excellent game, but was cramping after 60 minutes and we had to take him off," Palace boss Glasner said after the draw against KuPS. “This was the only sub that was not planned, but we knew he was coming back from an injury.
“George King had a very consistent game. He was good in the build-up, made no mistakes and was really solid in defence. All the players showed up and played with confidence. If we have one training together then it can’t be perfect, but they showed they are big talents.”
Six academy debuts this season. The future is bright.
High Hopes
The brightest of the rookies, however, was 16-year-old Joél Drakes-Thomas, who became the fourth youngest player to adorn Crystal Palace’s red and blue strip.
It is essential not to get carried away, especially for the sake of a youngster with a wealth of development to do, but the signs were encouraging.
There was an air of excitement when Drakes-Thomas was named in the starting XI. The teenager is widely regarded as the most promising prospect at the £20 million academy – a billing he more than lived up to.
Of the three debutants, he was the only one to complete the full 90 minutes. It was a mature performance on the left of the front three. His awareness was spectacular for his age. He showed instincts that cannot be taught.
Palace boss Glasner has long criticised attacking players, particularly Romain Esse, for failing to execute their strenuous defensive duties. Yet, Drakes-Thomas consistently tracked back and picked the right moments to pass and hold onto the ball.
Considering he had scarcely trained with the first team, he had an excellent understanding of their habits in and out of possession.
There was a calm level of confidence in Drakes-Thomas. No arrogance, nor fear, just modesty.
He had a few shots go awry, but he always tried to make things happen. The right-footer would run down the line before cutting back to dip a peach of a cross into the penalty area.
The disappointment is that first-team opportunities will be limited for Drakes-Thomas after becoming the youngest Englishman to play in the Conference League.
Having barely trained with Glasner’s side due to their packed schedule, Glasner admitted that the situation is unlikely to change and Drakes-Thomas will return to the academy as the campaign shows no sign of letting up.
That does not mean he will not be invited back here and there. It is more that the first-team cannot offer the optimal conditions for his development.
After handling his debut with aplomb, he deserves more opportunities – albeit Glasner is right.
Staying with the seniors would restrict his minutes and reduce his training sessions, which would be detrimental to his growth. Drakes-Thomas is too talented to let that happen.
However, that does not mean he must be limited to the Under-21s. When Palace have more full training sessions, Glasner can integrate the teenager to give him even more experience.
Meanwhile, when Palace begin their FA Cup defence away to Macclesfield in January, Glasner should bring him with the squad and give him another chance. What harm could it do?
Rodney’s Reward
Kaden Rodney has had to wait patiently for his chance. The 21-year-old made his first-team debut at left-back in Crystal Palace’s 2–0 Carabao Cup victory over Oxford United in 2022, when Patrick Vieira was at the helm.
Three years later, his next senior outing came. Now a central midfielder, Rodney became the Under-21's record appearance holder while remaining on the fringes of the senior squad – regularly training with the first team and occasionally named on the bench.
Known for his commitment in training and willingness to support the group in a largely thankless role, Rodney’s efforts have not gone unnoticed.
When his opportunity finally arrived, he took it well, coupling with Justin Devenny in midfield and offering a solid defensive partner while showing composure in possession.
His assured display in a senior European fixture will have done his prospects no harm, surely catching the attention of clubs in the EFL.
The Long Road to Leipzig
Palace’s route to the Conference League final has been elongated by their stuttered league phase campaign, with nine games separating Glasner’s side and the trophy.
There is an element of frustration that the Eagles dropped below expectations in the six-game qualifying campaign, forcing an extra two-legged tie into an already convoluted season.
However, the most important element is qualifying out of the league – no matter how you do it. Palace have reached the knockout stages in their first European season, which is inherently positive.
Glasner is a man of high standards, so it is worth evaluating where Palace must improve. A symptom of their season has been poor finishing, and that has been particularly noticeable in Europe, with their lower-ranked opposition being extremely clinical with limited chances. Take KuPS: three shots, two goals.
Although Palace have lacked ruthlessness, they have not struggled to create. In each European tie, they have crafted ample chances to take three points. Moving into the knockouts, their quality should start to tell across two legs.
As the English side, the FA Cup holders came into the competition with the best talent and greatest resources – it is a target on their backs.
Teams have caught Palace by surprise and adjusted to them, something they are not accustomed to in the Premier League, where opponents tend to stick to their own identity.
Intense fixture congestion has also hindered Palace, with limited options restricting the extent to which Glasner can freshen his side up while remaining competitive. A few bodies in the door in January will ease the burden come the first knockout tie in February.
It is key to remember that the league phase is meaningless. Liverpool cruised through last season’s Champions League league phase, winning seven of their eight matches to finish top.
Fast forward to Munich in May, PSG, who finished 15th in the league, were crowned Champions of Europe, thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final, having knocked out Liverpool two months prior.
Two extra matches might not be ideal, but at least supporters gain an additional away day in either Czechia or Bosnia and Herzegovina in their inaugural European season.
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