- Crystal Palace beat Fiorentina 4-2 on aggregate
- Dean Henderson elated
- Pauses post-match interview for a song
Dean Henderson was ecstatic after Crystal Palace booked their place in the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League. The English goalkeeper captained the Eagles out in Florence tonight.
Palace might not have won on the night after losing 2-1 but they advanced courtesy of a 4-2 win on aggregate. Ismaila Sarr gave the visitors the lead with a fine header to take his tally to 17 goals this season.
Fiorentina hit back through an Albert Guðmundsson penalty as the two sides went in at half-time a goal apiece. The Italians took a 2-1 lead when Cher Ndour found the back of the net but the Eagles managed to keep Paolo Vanoli’s men at bay from there on out.
Henderson Parties in Post-Match Interview
Henderson has been fantastic this season and he was again impressive tonight. He produced several crucial saves and commanded his box excellently.
The Palace goalkeeper spoke to TNT Sports after the game but couldn’t ignore the visiting fans. He cut the interview short midway through to orchestrate the crowd to sing his famous chant.
Henderson told Gabriel Clarke:
“This is unbelievable, this football club with the FA Cup last season, it’s phenomenal.“
Henderson touched on the fans’ support:
“They’ve stuck by us this season and hopefully we can go and deliver something really special.”
Palace will play Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in the semi-finals after they beat AZ Alkmaar 5-2 on aggregate. That will be no easy game but Glasner’s troops are favourites to go on and win the UEFA Conference League.
Henderson could be the man to lift the trophy come May should they indeed get past Shakhtar and win a potential final. It would be the perfect ending to the season for the English shot-stopper to place another trophy in the club’s trophy cabinet.
Not Completely Unscathed
While Palace fans and Henderson will celebrate reaching the semi-finals, there are two concerns. Adam Wharton and Maxence Lacroix were both forced off in the first half with injuries.
Wharton particularly looked upset when he hobbled off the pitch. He didn’t come back out to watch the second half on the bench unlike Lacroix who did but with his leg wrapped.
Henderson was asked if he knew the extent of their injuries:
“I’m not sure but at the end of the day, the gaffer keeps speaking about we need everyone.”
Jefferson Lerma came on for Wharton and put in a fine shift and so too did Chadi Riad for Lacroix. Glasner will be hoping the injuries aren’t too serious heading into the final stretch of the season.
Next up for Palace is a clash with West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday (April 20th). Then Liverpool are on the cards before the first-leg against Shakhtar on Thursday (April 30th).
