“I’m a little disappointed because after controlling the game we gave away the momentum too easily through our own mistakes,” said Palace coach Oliver Glasner.
The Londoners dominated the first half, with Ismaila Sarr putting the ball in the net after 11 minutes but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Palace took the lead a minute before the break when Sarr curled a shot into the far corner.
But Palace, playing their first European knock-out game, had won only once since early December and their control of the game evaporated at the start of the second half.
After 55 minutes, Adam Wharton gave the ball away in midfield and the hosts pounced. Leo Mikic found Karlo Abramovic galloping through the inside-right channel and the attacker drilled a low shot home.
As Palace faltered, Abramovic almost wriggled through for a second.
Wharton smashed a shot against the Zrinjski bar but Palace had an 84th-minute scare when the video officials told referee Manfredas Lukjancukas to look at the pitchside video to check for a potential penalty for handball by Palace defender Daniel Munoz.
Lukjancukas disagreed and concluded that Munoz had been fouled into touching the ball.
“It is level at half-time in the tie and we have to raise our level,” Glasner, who has already said he is leaving at the end of the season, told the Uefa web site.
Igor Stimac, Zrinjski coach, was satisfied.
“A result like this against a Premier League side, especially after a second half in which we should have converted several clear chances, is pleasing,” said the former Croatia centre back who played in the Premier League for Derby and West Ham.
“We have to keep working, there’s no need to be afraid.”
His players were also looking forward to visiting south London.
“We probably would have taken this result before kick-off and it’s a really big one for us,” said Mikic. “We’ll show heart again in the second leg. There will be a better pitch and an even better atmosphere, but we have every right to hope.”
Former Uefa Cup winners Fiorentina who have also reached two of the four finals since the Conference League began, losing both, scored three times in the second half as they cruised to a 3-0 victory away to Jagiellonia in Bialystok, Poland.
Towering central defender Luca Ranieri headed the Italians ahead after 53 minutes. Rolando Mandragora curled in a free-kick after 65 minutes. Roberto Piccoli then won a penalty and converted it on 81 minutes.
“I am pleased with this game. All our players performed well,” said Fiorentina coach Paolo Vanoli.
In Yerevan, Hovhannes Hambardzumyan scored the only goal as hosts Noah beat former Uefa Cup finalists AZ Alkmaar 1-0.
The 16 teams in action on Thursday are battling to join the eight clubs from the league phase. (AFP)
Edited by Cecil Wong
