Crystal Palace clinched a commanding 3-1 lead in the opening leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk, a result that could prove decisive as they head back to south London. The victory not only puts them in a strong position to reach the final in Leipzig on May 27, but also saw winger Ismaila Sarr etch his name into the competition’s history books. Within the first 21 seconds of the match, Sarr linked up flawlessly with striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, finishing a swift move into the far corner of the net. The goal made Sarr the joint top scorer in the tournament and awarded him the record for the fastest goal of the campaign.
Shakhtar responded after the interval, capitalising on a sloppy set-piece from Palace. A corner was poorly defended, allowing Oleh Ocheretko to pounce and net the first and second touches of the ball, narrowing the deficit. The Ukrainian side, led by veteran Arda Turan, began to dominate possession and press higher up the pitch, creating the impression that the tie might be swinging in their favour.
Despite the pressure, Palace remained disciplined when out of possession, maintaining a compact shape and threatening on the break. They missed several chances, but eventually broke the deadlock.
A brilliant combination between Sarr and Mateta forced goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk into a double save; Mateta’s follow‑up struck the post, and Daichi Kamada seized the rebound to double Palace’s lead. The second half showcased Oliver Glasner’s tactical acumen. Palace proved physically robust, making it difficult for Shakhtar to break them down through open play.
Their superior pace on the counter‑attack was the decisive factor. Kamada, after winning the ball deep in his own half, spotted the swift run of substitute Jorgen Strand Larsen.
The striker calmly chipped the ball over Riznyk, restoring the two‑goal cushion and effectively sealing the away leg. Glasner’s side displayed a professional, methodical performance that should see them enter the return leg as overwhelming favourites. Their blend of defensive solidity, quick transitions, and clinical finishing aligns perfectly with the style that has carried them this far in the competition. In the other semi‑final on Thursday, Rayo Vallecano edged Strasbourg 1-0 at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas, courtesy of a goal from Maciej Zurawski.
The final will be contested in Leipzig on May 27. Sky Sports analyst Laura Hunter highlighted that raw statistics can be misleading.
While Shakhtar enjoyed higher possession and more total shots, Palace generated more sustained, high‑quality chances. The game plan centred on exploiting the counter‑attack, a strategy that played to Palace’s strengths. Expected goals (xG) figures underscored this narrative: Shakhtar posted an xG of 1.06 compared with Palace’s 2.31, despite Palace having just 29% of the possession. Palace now sit in pole position to advance, living up to their pre‑tournament status as favourites.
The outcome could also provide a fairy‑tale ending for outgoing manager Oliver Glasner. Should Palace lift a second major trophy, it would exceed the wildest hopes of many supporters and cement Glasner’s legacy at Selhurst Park. After the match, Glasner told TNT Sports: "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." Striker Jorgen Strand Larsen 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 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 for a Premier League clash on Sunday before hosting Shakhtar for the second leg at Selhurst Park next Thursday.
The Bournemouth match, broadcast live on Sky Sports, will be an important test of their form ahead of the decisive return fixture. Fans can also engage with Sky Sports via WhatsApp for the latest news, video highlights, in‑depth analysis and more. Additionally, a Super 6 competition offers a chance to win £250,000, with free entry for participants.