Crystal Palace punishes Shakhtar to secure first-leg lead
Crystal Palace took a major step toward the Conference League final after overcoming Shakhtar Donetsk in the opening leg of their semi-final encounter. The breakthrough came almost immediately, as Ismaila Sarr found the net just 21 seconds after kickoff, setting a new record for the fastest goal in the competition. The forward latched onto a through ball from Jean-Philippe Mateta, beat the defensive line, and calmly finished into the far corner.
Following that explosive start, Shakhtar controlled possession for long stretches but struggled to create clear chances. Palace remained dangerous on the counterattack and nearly doubled their lead before the interval, when a well-worked move ended with Daniel Munoz delivering a threatening cross that goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk collected just before Sarr could connect.
The Ukrainian side, playing in Krakow due to the ongoing situation in their homeland, responded strongly after the break. Within two minutes of the restart, they drew level as Oleh Ocheretko converted from close range after a flick-on by Kaua Elias from a corner.
That goal sparked a period of dominance for Shakhtar, though Palace still looked dangerous going forward. Riznyk was called into action again, producing impressive saves to deny both Sarr and Mateta, while the latter also struck the post following a long throw from Chris Richards.
The second-half response puts Palace in control
Despite Shakhtar’s pressure, Palace regained the lead in the 58th minute. Another long throw from Richards caused confusion in the box, allowing Daichi Kamada to react quickly and score his first goal for the club since October 2024, when he last netted against Aston Villa in the League Cup.
As the match progressed, Palace continued to exploit openings, and their persistence paid off again late on. With six minutes remaining, Kamada delivered an incisive pass to substitute Jorgen Strand Larsen, whose clever first touch created space before he finished confidently to extend the lead.
This third goal proved decisive, giving the English side a strong cushion ahead of the return leg at Selhurst Park. The overall performance highlighted Palace’s ability to capitalize on key moments, even when not dominating possession.
The result leaves them well-positioned to reach what would be their first major European final, with momentum firmly on their side heading into the second match.
Key players deliver as Palace eyes further success
Under Oliver Glasner, whose tenure will conclude at the end of the season, Palace have already enjoyed a memorable period following last season’s FA Cup triumph. Their current European campaign offers the possibility of adding another significant achievement.
Sarr has been instrumental throughout the tournament, scoring his eighth goal in the competition to move level as its top scorer, while also reaching 18 goals across all competitions this season. Notably, six of those have come in knockout matches, underlining his impact in crucial fixtures.
Mateta also played an important role by troubling the opposition defense, while his replacement Strand Larsen made a vital contribution with a late goal that extended the advantage. The Norwegian forward, signed for a fee that could rise to £48m in January, had found goals hard to come by in the Premier League but delivered when it mattered most in Europe.
His strike, the first of his continental campaign, came at a pivotal moment for both player and club, reinforcing Palace’s commanding position ahead of the second leg.
Both teams now shift focus briefly to domestic duties, with Palace visiting Bournemouth and Shakhtar facing Dynamo Kyiv before their rematch in London on 7 May.
