When Crystal Palace flipped up £48 million for Jørgen Strand Larsen, various English media put a big question mark over the investment. This was a “one season wonder” player, who went from 14 Premier League goals last season to 1 poor in this one. At the beginning of March, the English media turned around and praised the Norwegian national team striker, but since then, things have been slow for the 26-year-old. Then it loosened up on Thursday, perfectly timed.
In March, The Telegraph described the club’s most expensive signing ever, as a player with a significant impact on the team and crucial to Palace now distancing themselves from the relegation battle.
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Then there have been games with less playing time – without scoring. On Thursday, Shakhtar waited Donetsk in the first Conference League semi-final. It was a close and intense game, on a 1-2 lead to Palace with twenty-five minutes left of the game, it was time for Strand Larsen’s substitution. Palace chased another goal, while the Shakhtar players chased an equalizer.
Five minutes before the end, “our man” went on a run and dribbled free before chipping the ball over a goalkeeper who was on his way out. Gorgeous!
With a 3-1 lead to the second semi-final, Palace and Strand Larsen have one foot in the Conference League final. For the Norwegian striker, the timing was perfect, it is precisely in these games that Palace should have goals from their most expensive player.
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