Crystal Palace beat Fredrikstad 1-0 on aggregate to secure their spot in the league phase of 2025-26 UEFA Conference League.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first=leg winner ultimately proved enough for Palace to progress after the pair played out a goalless draw in Fredrikstad, during which Chris Richards went closest with two wide headers.
“We’ve been defending really well,” explained Richards to UK broadcaster – Channel 5 post match as he praised Fredrikstad for their resilience. “But they are a good team and they threw everything at us.
“I’m glad we came away with the draw to advance. Not every game is going to be pretty, but as long as you get a result that’s the big thing.”
Richards proceeded to explain that Palace had achieved their second goal of the season and is now keen to to start winning European matches for the fans.
“Before the season we had a few goals and this was goal number two, the first was the Community Shield, then advancing in the Conference League.
“Everyone is excited. We’re an ambitious club and I think we’ve shown that over the last year. Now it’s time to win some games in Europe!
“I think I’m more excited for the fans as it’s the first time this club has experienced it. We’re really happy and ready to make history.”
Palace will discover their league phase opposition tomorrow (29 August) at 1pm BST when the draw is made.
Having clinically snatched the first-leg victory against Fredrikstad’s low-block defence, Palace unsurprisingly were met with the same resistance during which Richards nodded wide from a tenth-minute corner.
Fredrikstad however were more open when got on the attack which won them a 14th-minute corner, from which Maxwell Woledzi rifled over the bar from 20 yards.
Neither team though lacked a polished final touch of any major note aside from a 28th-minute over-the-top pass from Adam Wharton to Mateta, but the latter wasn’t able to get a proper connection on the delivery.
If fans thought that the first half was quite a dredge, there wasn’t much improvement in the second half aside from a wide long shot by Maxime Lacroix and another header put wide by Richards.
Fredrikstad ultimately lacked any real quality to get back level on aggregate as Palace saw the goalless game out to book their spot in the league phase, although Mateta saw a 96th-minute shot saved by Martin Borsheim.
Teams
Crystal Palace: Dean Henderson, Chris Richards, Maxime Lacroix, Marc Guehi, Daniel Munoz, Adam Wharton, Jefferson Lerma, Borna Sosa (Mitchell 78′), Ismaila Sarr, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Daichi Kamada (Devenny 93′)
Substitutes: Walter Benitez, Rio Cardines, Nathaniel Clyne, Justin Devenny, Romain Esse, Remi Matthews, Tyrick Mitchell, Kaden Rodney
Referee – Kristo Tohver