Chris Richards and Crystal Palace’s dreams of lifting a first-ever European trophy continued Thursday with the Eagles advancing in the UEFA Conference League.
Richards and the Eagles edged Cypriot side AEK Larnaca 2-1 in second leg Round of 16 action, booking their place into the quarterfinals. The U.S. men’s national team defender played 76 minutes in the matchup, being substituted off before the extra time periods began.
Ismaila Sarr scored in the 13th minute to boost Oliver Glasner’s squad in front but AEK Larnaca would battle back through Enric Saborit’s second-half equalizer. Saborit’s night ended early though as his second yellow card offense 10 minutes after tying the match saw him ejected with ample time to play.
Sarr delivered the eventual deciding goal for the visiting Eagles, scoring nine minutes into the first extra time period to give Crystal Palace a 2-1 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
AEK Larnaca would see a penalty kick shout waived off in the dying stages of the match before Petros Ioannou was also sent off after VAR ruled in favor of a red card.
Crystal Palace will next face Serie A club Fiorentina in the quarterfinal round this April, which will be the club’s next time on the pitch in all competitions. Richards will now head back to the United States for the start of the USMNT’s March camp.
Elsewhere, Malik Tillman came off the bench in Bayer Leverkusen’s second leg UCL loss to Arsenal. Alyssa Thompson shined in Chelsea’s WSL win over Brighton & Hove Albion. Phallon Tullis-Joyce registered a three-save clean sheet for Manchester United. George Bello and Sam Adineran both helped LASK reach the Austrian Cup Final.
Here is a closer look at this week’s Americans Abroad:
Europe
UEFA Champions League
Johnny Cardoso started and played 90 minutes in Atletico Madrid’s 2-2 second leg draw with Tottenham on Tuesday. Atletico Madrid advanced 7-4 on aggregate.
Malik Tillman came off the bench and played 30 minutes in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-0 second leg loss to Arsenal on Wednesday. Arsenal advanced 3-1 on aggregate.
Yunus Musah is OUT (Suspension) for Atalanta.
UEFA Europa League
Tanner Tessmann came off the bench and played 45 minutes in Lyon’s 2-0 second leg loss to Celta Vigo on Thursday. Celta Vigo advanced 3-1 on aggregate.
Erik Palmer-Brown is OUT (Ankle Injury) for Panathinaikos.
UEFA Conference League
Chris Richards started and played 76 minutes in Crystal Palace’s 2-1 second leg extra time win over AEK Larnaca on Thursday. Crystal Palace advanced 2-1 on aggregate.
Lennard Maloney came off the bench and played one minute in Mainz’s 2-0 second leg win over Sigma Olomouc on Thursday. Mainz advanced 2-0 on aggregate.
England
League One
Lynden Gooch started and played 53 minutes in Huddersfield Town’s 2-2 draw with Lincoln City on Tuesday.
League Two
Jonathan Tomkinson started and played 90 minutes in Cheltenham Town’s 1-1 draw with Crewe Alexandria on Tuesday.
WSL
Alyssa Thompson started, scored ONE GOAL, registered ONE ASSIST, and played 65 minutes in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday.
Naomi Girma did not dress (Injury) for Chelsea.
Phallon Tullis-Joyce started, made THREE SAVES, and played 90 minutes in Manchester United’s 0-0 draw with West Ham United on Wednesday.
Italy
Serie B
Gianluca Busio started, registered ONE ASSIST, and played 77 minutes in Venezia’s 3-1 win over Padova on Tuesday.
Jonathan Klinsmann started, made TWO SAVES, and played 90 minutes in Cesena’s 3-0 loss to Mantova on Tuesday.
Andrija Novakovich started and played 90 minutes in Reggiana’s 0-0 draw with Monza on Tuesday.
France
Coupe De France Feminine
Korbin Shrader started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 90 minutes in Lyon’s 7-0 win over Le Havre on Wednesday.
Lily Yohannes started, registered ONE ASSIST, and played 62 minutes for Lyon.
Lindsey Heaps came off the bench, scored ONE GOAL, and played 28 minutes for Lyon.
Austria
Cup
George Bello started and played 120 minutes in LASK’s 2-1 extra time win over Ried on Wednesday.
Sam Adineran started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 120 minutes for LASK.
North America
CONCACAF Champions Cup
Alex Zendejas started and played 72 minutes in Club America’s 1-1 second leg draw with the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday. Club America advanced 2-1 on aggregate.