Thu Dec 18 20:30:00 UTC 2025: Summary:
Crystal Palace fielded a drastically changed starting XI, featuring three debutants, including a 16-year-old, for a match against Finnish side KuPS. The game is part of the Conference League with Crystal Palace leading after an early goal. This comes as a surprise, with a Premier League game just 48 hours away. The KuPS team includes players with past experience in English football. The text also covers sports news like the Sports Personality of the Year awards, upcoming football tournaments, and other sports topics.
News Article:
Youthful Palace Side Takes on KuPS in Conference League Clash
Selhurst Park, London – In a surprising move, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has made a staggering 11 changes to his starting lineup for their Conference League match against Finnish champions KuPS. With a Premier League fixture against Leeds United looming in just 48 hours, the Eagles are giving valuable experience to their youth players.
The most notable inclusion is 16-year-old defender Joel Drakes-Thomas, making his senior debut. He’s joined in the backline by fellow debutants Dean Benamar, 17, and George King, 18. The Palace bench is filled with established first-team players, indicating a clear focus on resting key personnel for the upcoming league match.
KuPS, managed by former Stockport County and Hibernian player Jarkko Wiss, features familiar faces to English football fans, including Polish forward Piotr Parzyszek, formerly with Charlton Athletic, and Jaakko Oksanen, previously of Brentford. As of press time, Crystal Palace were leading the game.
First Piper 