New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) KuPS gave Crystal Palace a scare while Fiorentina lost at Lausanne-Sport but both sides progressed on a dramatic final day of league phase action as the line-up for the UEFA Conference League knockout stages was completed.
A breathless draw at Selhurst Park secured KuPS a spot in the knockout phase play-offs. Goals from Piotr Parzyszek and Ibrahim Cisse in the space of three minutes stunned the Eagles after Christantus Uche’s superb opener in the fifth minute.
Oliver Glasner’s substitutions sparked the home side back to life; a perfect cross from Tyrick Mitchell, fresh off the bench, finding an unmarked Justin Devenny at the far post. However, Palace could not find the winner which would have sent them through to the round of 16, instead joining their Finnish visitors in the knockout phase play-offs.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, will have to navigate a play-off to reach the UEFA Conference League last 16 after a 2-2 draw with KuPS Kuopio confirmed a 10th place finish in the league phase.
Lausanne-Sport just missed out on a top-eight place despite beating Fiorentina 1-0 in Switzerland. The first half was one of few chances, a Sekou Fofana attempt that skewed wide the closest either side came.
The second was more open, however, and after Enzo Kana-Biyik skimmed the post with one deft effort, his cross picked out Gabriel Sigua to head in from close range.
Beyatt Lekoueiry might have added a second but was denied by Viola goalkeeper Tommaso Martinelli. Fiorentina will enter the play-offs after finishing 15th in the rankings.
Elsewhere, two late goals earned Strasbourg a 3-1 win against valiant Breidablik and ensured that the French side finished top of the league phase on 16 points.
Luka Jovic converted a penalty in the 15th minute of added time as AEK Athens won 3-2 against Universitatea Craiova and condemned the Romanian side to an exit from the competition.
The Greek side trailed 2-1 after 90 minutes, but Derek Kutesa levelled the scores, and a win means they finished third in the table.
–IANS
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