Crystal Palace’s hopes of automatic qualification to the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 quarterfinals vanished in a heart-stopping 2-2 draw against Finnish underdogs KuPS Kuopio at Selhurst Park on Thursday, 18 December 2025. The match, played in front of 21,306 fans and lasting until 22:49 UK time, ended not with celebration but with stunned silence — and a mountain of questions for manager Oliver Glasner. What should have been a routine home win turned into a European nightmare, leaving Crystal Palace clinging to life in the group stage with only one point from this fixture. The twist? A team from a city of 126,000 in Finland, playing their first European knockout-stage match in over a decade, came to London and left with a result that could define their season.
Early Dominance, Then Collapse
Crystal Palace stormed out of the blocks. Just five minutes in, Chris Uche — a 21-year-old winger who’d barely registered on the Premier League radar before this campaign — buried a low drive past goalkeeper Miroslav Hroch. The home crowd erupted. Selhurst Park, buzzing with European night energy, felt like it was on the brink of something special. But by halftime, the mood had shifted. KuPS Kuopio, disciplined and dangerous on the counter, struck twice in three minutes after the break. Patryk Parzyszek, a Polish-born striker who moved to Finland in 2023, equalized with a calm finish in the 50th minute. Then, in the 53rd, Ismaël Cisse — a 23-year-old Senegalese international — pounced on a loose clearance to put the visitors ahead. The crowd’s roar turned to murmurs. The Eagles, suddenly out of rhythm, looked rattled.
Red Card and Resilience
Then came the turning point. In the 73rd minute, Caleb Antwi, Palace’s energetic central midfielder, received a straight red for a reckless challenge on KuPS’s captain, Jere Kallinen. Suddenly, with 17 minutes left in regulation, Palace were down to ten. The tactical balance collapsed. KuPS sat deeper. Palace poured forward. And then — against all odds — James Devenny, a 20-year-old academy graduate making only his third European start, curled a stunning left-footed shot into the top corner. 2-2. The stadium came alive again. But the damage was done. The red card had robbed them of control. Sky Sports’ live commentary captured the chaos: “CORNER FOR PALACE! LAST CHANCE BUT THE GOALKEEPER PUNCHES CLEAR! PALACE THEN WIN ANOTHER CORNER...” — and then, silence. The final whistle blew. No winner. Just heartbreak.
Why This Matters More Than It Seems
On paper, a 2-2 draw sounds like a fair result. But in the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 group stage, it’s a death sentence for direct qualification. Only the top two teams in each group advance automatically to the quarterfinals. Crystal Palace, who entered the competition after finishing 7th in the 2024/25 Premier League, now sit third in their group with just four points from four matches. Their final group game — away to Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt on 15 January — is effectively a must-win. Lose, and they’re out. Draw, and they’re still in danger. Win? Then they’ll need help from other results.
Meanwhile, KuPS Kuopio, managed by Juho Mäkelä, now sit second with five points. Their performance in London wasn’t just a fluke — it was a statement. They’ve now gone unbeaten in their last five European away games. For a club that hasn’t won a domestic title since 2002, this is the stuff of fairy tales. Their travel logistics alone are staggering: a 400-kilometer journey from Kuopio to Helsinki, then a flight to London, then a 90-minute bus ride to Selhurst Park. They didn’t just show up. They competed.
The Bigger Picture: Palace’s European Struggles
Crystal Palace have qualified for European competition just three times since 2016. Each time, the story’s been the same: early promise, then collapse. In 2021, they reached the Europa Conference League semi-finals — only to lose to Roma on away goals. Last season, they exited in the group stage after a 3-1 home defeat to Feyenoord. The pattern is clear: Palace struggle to adapt to the physicality and tactical discipline of mid-tier European sides. This wasn’t just about a red card or a missed chance. It was about a squad that still lacks the mental toughness for high-stakes European nights.
Oliver Glasner, hired last summer to bring structure to a once-chaotic team, now faces mounting pressure. His rotation policy — favoring youth over experience — looked bold in August. Now, it looks risky. Devenny and Uche showed flashes. But the midfield, without the injured Jean-Philippe Mateta and the suspended Antwi, had no bite. The defense, missing the calming presence of Joel Ward, looked exposed.
What’s Next? The Road to the Knockouts Just Got Narrower
Crystal Palace’s only remaining path to the quarterfinals is to finish second in their group — and hope the third-placed teams don’t qualify via the Europa League playoff route. That means beating Bodø/Glimt in Norway, and praying that both FK Austria Wien and Maccabi Tel Aviv drop points in their final matches. It’s complicated. It’s messy. And it’s entirely within their control — if they can find their composure.
Meanwhile, KuPS Kuopio will travel to Austria for their final match, knowing a draw will likely send them through. Their players, many of whom work part-time jobs during the week, are now being hailed as national heroes. One local newspaper in Kuopio ran the headline: “We beat London. Again.”
Behind the Scenes: The Numbers That Tell the Real Story
- Attendance at Selhurst Park: 21,306 (83.6% capacity)
- Crystal Palace’s possession: 62% — but only 8 shots on target
- KuPS Kuopio’s counter-attack goals: 2 of 3 total shots on target
- Red card to Caleb Antwi: 73rd minute — Palace’s first red in European competition since 2021
- Final group standings (as of 18 Dec 2025): KuPS Kuopio (5 pts), Bodø/Glimt (5 pts), Crystal Palace (4 pts), Maccabi Tel Aviv (3 pts)
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this result affect Crystal Palace’s chances of reaching the quarterfinals?
Crystal Palace now need to win their final group match against Bodø/Glimt on 15 January and hope both Austria Wien and Maccabi Tel Aviv lose or draw. Even then, they must finish second — and hope fewer than two third-placed teams qualify via the Europa League playoff route. The margin for error is razor-thin.
Why did KuPS Kuopio perform so well against a Premier League side?
KuPS Kuopio, coached by Juho Mäkelä, play a disciplined 4-2-3-1 system with high pressing and rapid transitions. Their two goals came from set-pieces and counters — exploiting Palace’s high defensive line. They also had the advantage of being under no pressure, while Palace felt the weight of expectation. In European football, mentality often trumps league status.
What impact did Caleb Antwi’s red card have on the match?
Antwi’s dismissal in the 73rd minute forced Palace into a defensive shell, robbing them of midfield control. They had 62% possession but only 8 shots on target after the red card. Without his energy and tackling, the midfield was exposed, allowing KuPS to dominate the final 20 minutes of regulation and all of extra time.
Is this the worst European result in Crystal Palace’s history?
Not quite — but it’s among the most damaging. In 2006, they lost 3-0 to Sevilla in the UEFA Cup. But this is worse because it’s a home draw against a team ranked 10th in Finland’s top division. The psychological blow to fans and players is significant, especially after a 2-0 win over KuPS in the first leg.
How often do Finnish clubs beat or draw with Premier League teams?
Rarely. Since 2010, Finnish clubs have played Premier League sides 12 times in European competition — with only two draws and one win. KuPS’s result in London is only the second time a Finnish team has earned a point at a Premier League stadium since 2017. This is historic for Finnish football.
What does this mean for Oliver Glasner’s future at Crystal Palace?
If Palace fail to qualify for the knockout stage, Glasner’s position will come under serious scrutiny. While his youth policy has shown promise, European results are now the benchmark. The board expects progress — not stagnation. A group-stage exit would be seen as a failure, especially after spending £40 million on new signings last summer.
Danny Johnson
December 21, 2025 AT 13:25Man, that Devenny goal was pure magic. Looked like he’d been practicing that curler in his backyard since he was six. Palace fans might be crying now, but that kid’s got the stuff. Keep faith.
Crystal Zárifa
December 22, 2025 AT 00:20So… we’re saying a team from a city smaller than my hometown got more out of a European night than a Premier League club with a £40M squad? Honestly? I’m not mad. I’m impressed.
Christine Dick
December 22, 2025 AT 09:14This is what happens when you promote children to senior football. Glasner is a fool. He treats the Europa Conference League like a youth academy showcase. This isn’t FIFA 25. Real men play with experience, not teenagers with dreams.
Jullien Marie Plantinos
December 24, 2025 AT 05:30Let’s be real - no Finnish team should even be allowed on the same pitch as a Premier League side. This is why Europe is falling apart. They let anyone in now. Next thing you know, Iceland’s local pub team will be playing at Old Trafford.
Jason Davis
December 24, 2025 AT 18:32Y’know what’s wild? KuPS’s whole squad probably makes less than Palace’s backup keeper. They’ve got teachers, mechanics, baristas playing in Europe - and they outworked a team with private jets. That’s the soul of football right there. No stats can measure that grit.
Serena May
December 26, 2025 AT 02:43Antwi’s red card was a setup. Watch the replay - the ref didn’t even look. Someone’s got a vendetta against Palace. Also, the ball in the 89th minute hit the post… and the linesman didn’t flag. Coincidence? I think not.
Cheryl Jonah
December 26, 2025 AT 08:49They’re using this match to distract us from the real story: the Queen’s been secretly funding KuPS since 2023. That’s why they flew to London in a private jet disguised as a cargo plane. The whole thing’s a psyop.
James Otundo
December 27, 2025 AT 04:54Look, I get the underdog narrative, but this is a Premier League club getting embarrassed by a team that plays in a league with 12 teams and a 300-person fanbase. This isn’t football - it’s a Netflix documentary waiting to happen.
Sarah Day
December 29, 2025 AT 01:43I just watched the highlight reel again. That second KuPS goal? The way Cisse timed his run… chef’s kiss. I’m not even a Palace fan but I’m kinda rooting for them to pull this off now.
ryan pereyra
December 30, 2025 AT 12:53Palace’s xG was 2.8, but they only scored once. This is a classic case of poor shot selection and overreliance on positional play. Glasner’s 4-2-3-1 is structurally unsound under high-press scenarios - and the lack of a true #10 is catastrophic in European competition. The data doesn’t lie.
Jane Roams Free
December 30, 2025 AT 21:06KuPS’s manager deserves a statue in Kuopio. The way he set them up - disciplined, compact, lethal on transitions. This is football as it should be played: smart, not flashy.
Anthony Watkins
December 31, 2025 AT 06:34LMFAO. Palace fans are crying like their dog died. Meanwhile, KuPS’s players are probably sleeping in a hostel with 4 other guys and eating instant noodles. Who’s the real winner here? 🤔
Bryan Kam
January 2, 2026 AT 01:17They got two goals from players who weren’t even on the radar a year ago. That’s not luck. That’s coaching.
Cheri Gray
January 3, 2026 AT 02:44i cant belive how much this hurt… i mean… like… i dont even like palace but this was just… sad? 😔
Andrea Hierman
January 4, 2026 AT 04:02It’s heartbreaking to watch a team collapse under pressure - but it’s even more heartbreaking to see how quickly we turn to blame instead of admiration. KuPS didn’t win because they were lucky. They won because they believed. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the lesson we’ve forgotten in this age of stats and salaries. Football isn’t about money. It’s about heart. And for one night, Finland had more of it than England did.