Crystal Palace has advanced to the Conference League semi-finals, defeating Fiorentina 4-2 on aggregate despite losing the second leg 2-1 in Florence. The Eagles' victory was sealed after Ismaila Sarr scored an early header, building on their 3-0 win at Selhurst Park in the first leg.
Although Fiorentina fought back with goals on either side of early injury substitutions for Adam Wharton and Maxence Lacroix, Palace's aggregate lead proved insurmountable. This achievement marks Crystal Palace's first European semi-final, where they will face Shakhtar Donetsk. The London club becomes the fifth English team to reach the Conference League last four, following in the footsteps of Chelsea, West Ham, Leicester, and Aston Villa.
In the second leg, Jaydee Canvot's foul on Rolando Mandragora led to a penalty, which Albert Gudmundsson converted to give Fiorentina a glimmer of hope. However, Crystal Palace held on, with Sarr being named Player of the Match.
The team's progress to the semi-finals is a testament to their resilience, having navigated a challenging season with injuries and a heavy workload. Palace will host Shakhtar in the return leg at Selhurst Park, after traveling to Poland for the first leg, scheduled for April 30 and May 7, respectively. Manager Oliver Glasner expressed pride in his team's achievement, stating that they fully deserve their spot in the semi-finals despite making it tough in the second leg.
Glasner attributed the team's success to their ability to defend well and show great resilience, particularly in the knockout stages. The road to the semi-finals has not been smooth, but Crystal Palace remains focused on their goal of winning the competition, with goalkeeper Dean Henderson emphasizing the importance of delivering something special to the fans.