Crystal Palace secured a commanding 3-1 lead to bring back to south London after the opening leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk. The victory not only puts the Selhurst Park side in a strong position for the return fixture, but also underscores their ambition to capture a second major trophy under manager Oliver Glasner.
The match began in spectacular fashion for Palace. Within the first 21 seconds, Ismaila Sarr linked up flawlessly with Jean-Philippe Mateta, slicing through the Shakhtar defence and slotting the ball into the far corner. The goal not only gave Palace an early advantage but also saw Sarr become the joint top scorer in the competition and claim the record for the fastest goal of the tournament. Such a rapid strike set the tone for what would become a tightly contested encounter.
Shakhtar responded after the interval, capitalising on a sloppy set-piece from the visitors. A corner was delivered into the box, and Oleh Ocheretko rose to meet it, converting on first and second contact to pull one back for the Ukrainian side. The goal sparked a surge of pressure from Shakhtar, who began to dominate possession and create a number of chances. Their midfield, marshalled by the experienced Arda Turan, tried to assert control and seemed to be shifting the momentum in their favour.
Despite the growing pressure, Palace remained disciplined when out of possession. They organised themselves compactly, denying Shakhtar clear lanes and staying alert for counter‑attack opportunities. A series of missed chances followed, including a spectacular double save by goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk after Sarr and Mateta combined again. Mateta’s effort struck the post, and it was Daichi Kamada who finally broke the deadlock with a well‑taken second‑half goal, restoring Palace’s two‑goal cushion.
The second half showcased Oliver Glasner’s tactical acumen. Palace’s physicality made it difficult for Shakhtar to break them down in open play, while their speed on the break proved decisive. Kamada, after winning the ball deep in his own half, spotted the swift run of substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen.
The forward calmly dinked the ball past Riznyk, extending the lead to 3-1. This moment epitomised Palace’s game plan: absorb pressure, stay compact, and strike decisively on the counter. Statistically, the match presented an interesting paradox. Shakhtar enjoyed higher possession and a greater total of shots, which might suggest they were the dominant side.
However, Palace generated more sustained and higher‑quality chances, as reflected in the expected‑goals (xG) figures – Shakhtar at 1.06 versus Palace’s impressive 2.31. Creating such a threat with only 29% of the ball highlights the efficiency of Glasner’s approach.
The result places Palace in pole position to progress to the final in Leipzig on May 27. Their pre‑tournament status as favourites appears well‑earned, and the victory could mark a fitting climax to Oliver Glasner’s tenure should he depart after the campaign. A second major trophy would exceed the wildest expectations of many supporters and cement his legacy at the club.
In related news, the other semi‑final saw Rayo Vallecano edge Strasbourg 1-0 at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas, courtesy of a strike from Maciej Zurawski. The final will be contested in Leipzig on the same date. Post‑match, Glasner praised his squad, saying, "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 Jørgen Strand Larsen added, "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 decisive second leg at Selhurst Park next Thursday. The upcoming fixtures will test the squad’s depth and resilience as they balance domestic commitments with their European ambitions. Fans can follow all the latest updates, video highlights, and in‑depth analysis on Sky Sports, including exclusive interviews and behind‑the‑scenes content. The competition continues to capture the imagination of supporters across Europe, with the promise of a thrilling finale in Leipzig later this month.