Maxence Lacroix and Ismaila Sarr struck in the first half after AZ keeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro had saved a Jean-Philippe Mateta penalty and denied Sarr from close range. Sven Mijnans halved the lead, but Sarr finished a defence-splitting Mateta pass to secure three points and leave AZ with just one win from three games.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lacroix said that the previous defeat to AEK Larnaca had inspired Palace to fight back against the Dutch side, who went into this season\u2019s UEFA Conference League as one of the pre-tournament favourites with a storng track record in the competition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Lacroix\u2019s fine snap-shot finish in the first-half \u2013 Palace\u2019s first-ever goal at Selhurst Park in a major European competition proper \u2013 was added to by Ismaila Sarr\u2019s brace either side of half-time to send the SE25 Eagles home happy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe are really happy, really happy to get this win for them, and with how we played,\u201d Lacroix told TNT Sports. \u201cI think everyone loves to see goals here at Selhurst, so yeah, everyone is happy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Lacroix\u2019s fine snap-shot finish in the first-half \u2013 Palace\u2019s first-ever goal at Selhurst Park in a major European competition proper \u2013 was added to by Ismaila Sarr\u2019s brace either side of half-time to send the SE25 Eagles home happy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe are in a good way. We\u2019ve won three games in a row, so we are really happy about that and we want to continue. We have the derby [against Brighton & Hove Albion] on Sunday, so I think it's going to be an important moment for us.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n