Crystal Palace take commanding lead in Europa Conference League
Crystal Palace have put themselves in a brilliant position to reach the Europa Conference League final after a commanding 3-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in Poland, reports BritPanorama.
Ismaila Sarr wasted absolutely no time, netting after just 21 seconds to set a new competition record for the fastest goal ever scored. The Senegal forward latched onto a pass from Jean-Philippe Mateta and coolly slotted the ball into the far corner, catching Shakhtar’s defence completely off guard. That lightning start also made Sarr the joint top scorer in this season’s Conference League.
Oliver Glasner’s side now take a healthy two-goal cushion back to Selhurst Park for the second leg on 7 May. Shakhtar, playing their home fixture in Krakow due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, hit back almost immediately after the break when Oleh Ocheretko pounced from close range after Kaua Elias nodded on a corner, and suddenly the momentum shifted.
Arda Turan’s team dominated possession and looked like they might turn the tie around completely. However, Palace remained solid and dangerous on the counter-attack. Goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk pulled off two superb stops to deny Sarr and Mateta in quick succession, while Mateta also rattled the woodwork with a hooked effort.
Palace finally made their pressure count in the 58th minute when Daichi Kamada swept home following a Chris Richards throw-in – his first goal for the club since October 2024. The killer blow came with just six minutes remaining on the clock, as Kamada picked out the run of substitute Jorgen Strand Larsen with a lovely through ball, allowing the striker to dink the ball past Riznyk for a crucial third.
It was a tactical masterclass from Glasner, whose side proved physically too strong for Shakhtar to break down while carrying constant threat going forward. The south London club now head into the return fixture as overwhelming favourites to book their spot in the final in Leipzig at the end of May.
For Palace, it appears that a European final is within reach, but as football has shown time and again, nothing is guaranteed until the final whistle blows. A reminder of how fleeting glory can be, especially on the continental stage.
