On a landmark evening which marked Palace’s first-ever game in European knockout competition, the Eagles flew out of the traps and ought to have taken an early lead through Ismaïla Sarr.
The Senegalese wide man broke in behind the Zrinjski defence and forced Goran Karacic into a fine save which fell kindly for Adam Wharton on the rebound, but he blazed over.
Oliver Glasner’s men did eventually have the ball in the back of the net, and it was that man Sarr again involved, firing home after Chris Richards kept the ball alive inside the area, but Palace’s American defender had strayed offside in the build-up, and the assistant referee’s flag cut celebrations short.
The Bosnian side spent almost the entire first half sponging up pressure, but for all their sitting in and defending, it was the hosts who created the biggest chance of the first half.
A hopeful ball into the box was nodded down by Mario Cuze perfectly into the path of Antonio Ivancic, who, despite having the freedom of the penalty area, incredibly fired handsomely over the bar.
They were left to rue that missed opportunity on the stroke of half-time too, when a deft lay-off from Jorgen Strand Larsen was swept into the far corner by Sarr from the edge of the area.
Palace perhaps became complacent after taking the lead, and they were caught cold within 10 minutes of the restart.
A loose pass in midfield was pounced upon by Leo Mikic, who strode forward and fed Karlo Abramovic, whose laser-like effort nestled in the far corner.
Zrinjski were buoyed by that leveller and created a gilt-edged chance to take the lead when Cuze was played clean through on goal, but he dithered for too long, and the pressure of a Palace defender breathing down his neck forced him to skew his effort wide.
The Eagles did apply some late pressure and rattled the crossbar through Adam Wharton, while Richards missed an unmarked header six yards from goal.
Matej Sakota threatened a late winner for the hosts when he tested Dean Henderson, and Palace received an even bigger let-off from the rebound when Daniel Munoz’s handball went unpunished following a lengthy check at the pitchside monitor.
That incident prompted a sizable amount of stoppage time, but neither side were able to capitalise, leaving it all to play for ahead of next week’s second leg at Selhurst Park.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Karlo Abramovic (Zrinjski)
