When you as a striker play on the same national team as Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth, then you are almost guaranteed a place in the shadows. Jørgen Strand Larsen has shown he can do great out in the sun, we still remember with a big smile the delicious goal he put in behind the world’s best goalkeeper, Donnarumma, in the historic 1-4 victory at the San Siro. Strand Larsen also shows at club level he is the player for the big games.
Jørgen Strand Larsen has done it. Not in one of the main roles in the Conference League final, but with the very important goal against Shaktar Donetsk in the first semi-final, a powerful goal that gave Palace exactly what they needed for a 3-1 victory before the second leg they won 2-1. On Wednesday, it was ready for the final. The most expensive player in Palace history got the quarter of an hour on the pitch in the final match against Spanish RAYO that ended with a 1-0 victory. The transfer from Premier League bottom team Wolverhampton has been quite a journey for the Norwegian national team striker!
For Strand Larsen, this means that his club has a Europa League ticket next season. Unfortunately without Oliver Glasner, who is stepping down as Palace coach after the historic titles in the FA Cup, Community Shield and now the Conference League.
The Norwegian national team striker Strand Larsen has had quite a journey
Strand Larsen has deserved to raise his first trophy on the ball island. We rewind to the Shaktar game in the semi-final, when legend Glen Hoddle had to pull out Harry Kane to describe how raw Jørgen Strand Larsen’s goal was, a goal that of course deserved the award for Goal of the Month at Crystal Palace.
The BBC then praised Strand Larsen for meeting the extreme expectations that come with a £48m striker: “Being a club’s record signing comes with a certain amount of pressure. Some players rise to cope with it, while others struggle. His fourth goal could arguably be his most important, as he created a magical moment that gave Palace a 3-1 lead,” the state channel wrote after the Norwegian countryman’s Conference League goal.
Strand Larsen’s “Harry Kane scoring”
Football legend and former England national team manager, Glen Hoddle, used Harry Kane to describe Strand Larsen’s performance in the away game against Shakhtar: “We weren’t sure if he had that touch, and that’s what’s impressive. The calm and then to knock it into the corner. If it was Harry Kane who scored that goal, we would all say ‘wow, what a beautiful goal’,” Glenn Hoddle boasted on TNT Sports.
Jørgen Strand Larsen has had quite a journey over the past six months, which ended with a title. Now the fun of the World Cup also awaits the Conference League champion!
