Crystal Palace will face a Conference League play-off tie after drawing 2-2 with KuPS at Selhurst Park on Thursday. The result means Oliver Glasner's side finished outside the top eight in the Conference League table and must now contest a two-legged play-off at the end of February.

Glasner made 11 changes to the team that started against Manchester City, handing debuts to teenage defenders George King and Dean Benamar. Sixteen-year-old winger Joel Drakes-Thomas also became the fourth youngest player in Palace's history. Despite the changes, Palace started brightly, with Christantus Uche opening the scoring in the sixth minute with a beautiful curling effort into the top-left corner. Palace controlled the rest of the first half, creating a series of half-chances against the Finnish champions. Uche was denied a second goal by a crucial block from Ibrahim Cisse.

KuPS, whose domestic season finished nearly two months ago, started the second half strongly. Piotr Parzyszek leveled the score, and then Ibrahim Cisse turned the game on its head with a second goal for the visitors. Clinton Antwi was then sent off for a bad tackle on Will Hughes, giving Palace the impetus to push for an equaliser. Justin Devenny, who made a strong case for more regular minutes, headed home the equaliser in the 77th minute. Despite late pressure and the introduction of Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah, Palace were unable to find a winner. KuPS goalkeeper Johannes Kreidl made vital saves to preserve the draw.

The draw means that Palace must now progress through a Conference League play-off rather than directly advancing to the round of 16. Glasner has made no excuses for prioritising their Premier League game against Leeds on Saturday, given they have less than 48 hours to recover for the trip to Elland Road.