In a stunning display, Crystal Palace won the first leg of the Europa Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1, making them strong contenders to reach the final. The match took place on April 30, 2026, at Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana in Kraków, Poland, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Ismaila Sarr set the tone early by scoring the fastest goal in the competition’s history—just 21 seconds into the match. This electrifying start gave Palace an immediate advantage and showcased their intent to dominate.
But how did they maintain this momentum? Despite having only 29% possession, Crystal Palace created more scoring opportunities than their opponents. Daichi Kamada doubled their lead after a swift counter-attack, while Jorgen Strand Larsen sealed the victory with Palace’s third goal.
Shakhtar Donetsk managed to score only once through Oleh Ocheretko from a corner in the second half. This solitary goal did little to shift the tide of the match.
Key statistics from the match:
- Crystal Palace scored 3 goals compared to Shakhtar Donetsk’s 1.
- Sarr’s record-breaking goal came just 21 seconds into play.
- Palace maintained only 29% possession but outperformed Shakhtar in opportunities created.
Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace’s manager, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance: “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.” His strategic approach clearly paid off.
Looking ahead, Crystal Palace will host Shakhtar in the return leg at Selhurst Park next Thursday. With such a significant advantage from this match, they are well-positioned to advance to the final scheduled for May 27 in Leipzig.