Crystal Palace secured a commanding 3-1 lead in the opening leg of their Europa Conference League semi‑final against Shakhtar Donetsk, giving the south London side a comfortable cushion to protect when they host the return match. The victory was highlighted by a lightning‑quick strike from Ismaila Sarr, who, just 21 seconds after kickoff, linked up with Jean‑Philippe Mateta to slot the ball into the far corner. That goal not only made Sarr the joint top scorer in the competition but also set a new record for the fastest goal of the tournament.
Shakhtar responded after the interval, capitalising on a sloppy set‑piece from Palace. A corner delivery was mishandled, allowing Oleh Ocheretko to pounce and fire home from close range, restoring some balance to the tie. The Ukrainian side then began to dominate possession, pressing high and attempting to dictate the tempo.
For a period it seemed the momentum might swing in their favour, as they kept the ball and applied sustained pressure. Nevertheless, Palace remained disciplined when out of possession, maintaining a compact shape and always threatening on the break. They squandered several chances in the second half, but eventually broke the deadlock again. A combination between Sarr and Mateta forced a spectacular double save from goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk; Mateta’s follow‑up struck the post, and Daichi Kamada seized the rebound to double Palace’s advantage with a well‑timed finish.
The remainder of the half unfolded like a masterclass in Oliver Glasner’s tactical approach. Palace proved physically robust, making it difficult for Shakhtar to break them down through open play, while their pace on the counter proved decisive. The decisive moment came when Kamada intercepted a pass deep in his own half, spotted the surging run of substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen, and delivered a perfectly weighted pass.
Strand Larsen, calm under pressure, dinked the ball past Riznyk to make it 3‑1, sealing a professional away‑leg performance that positions Palace as overwhelming favourites to reach the final in Leipzig on 27 May. In the other semi‑final played on Thursday, Rayo Vallecano edged Strasbourg 1‑0 at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas, courtesy of a strike from Maciej Zurawski. The final of the competition will also be held in Leipzig on 27 May.
Sky Sports' Laura Hunter provided additional context, noting that raw statistics can sometimes misrepresent the flow of a match. While Shakhtar enjoyed higher possession and a greater total shot count, Palace generated more sustained and higher‑quality chances. Their game plan – to strike on the counter‑attack – leveraged their strongest attributes and paid off.
Expected goals (xG) figures underscored this narrative: Shakhtar posted an xG of 1.06 compared with Palace’s 2.31, a remarkable return given Palace held just 29 % of the possession. Glasner’s side now sits in pole position to progress, living up to pre‑tournament expectations of being the favourites. The prospect of a second major trophy could provide a fairy‑tale ending for the departing manager, whose tenure may culminate in Leipzig. Such an achievement would cement his legacy at Selhurst Park, delivering a triumph that most supporters could scarcely imagine.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Glasner praised his players: "I’m very happy and very pleased with the performance. Credit to the players – they stuck to the plan and worked very hard, every single one in defence.
We didn’t give them a lot. They were a big threat from set‑plays. This is where we conceded, but I think we were also the same when we went forward.
When we were on the attack, it was always very threatening. Overall, we are very pleased with the performance, but it’s just the first step. I believe we have to perform even better at home to go to the final." Strand Larsen, who scored the third goal, also shared his thoughts: "I needed that, I was unlucky last game against Liverpool, so I felt the confidence had dropped a little bit, but I always kept on going and it is tough as we have two good players fighting for one spot.
To come here and score a goal is just an amazing feeling. You could see after we scored early that they are a good team. We had to stay in, not lose our heads.
We are 3‑1 up but there is still a game to play. Important for me and the team to get a third. We know the structure of the manager and the team.
We had to accept they are a good team so we had to sit a bit deeper today but we did well on the counter‑attack – and if we were even better we could have scored more." Looking ahead, Palace will travel to Bournemouth on Sunday for a Premier League clash before hosting Shakhtar in the second leg at Selhurst Park next Thursday. The upcoming fixtures will test the squad’s depth and resolve as they chase both domestic and European success. Fans can also try their luck in the Sky Sports Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, with free entry available through the platform.