Crystal Palace secured a place in their first-ever European final after defeating Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 at Selhurst Park, completing a dominant 5-2 aggregate victory in the UEFA Conference League semi-final.
The Eagles continued their remarkable European journey under manager Oliver Glasner, producing another composed display in front of their home supporters to book a showdown with Rayo Vallecano in the final later this month in Leipzig.
Palace entered the second leg carrying a comfortable 3-1 advantage from the first encounter in Ukraine, and they wasted little time asserting control. The breakthrough came after a dangerous Palace attack forced an own goal from Pedro Henrique, giving the Premier League side an early lead.
However, Shakhtar responded strongly as Eguinaldo found the net to level the match on the night and briefly raise hopes of a comeback for the Ukrainian giants. Despite the pressure, Palace remained disciplined and dangerous on the counterattack.
The decisive moment arrived in the second half when Ismaïla Sarr calmly finished to restore Palace’s lead. The Senegal international continued his outstanding European campaign, taking his tally to nine goals in the competition and strengthening his position among the tournament’s top scorers.
The final whistle sparked emotional celebrations around Selhurst Park as Palace supporters witnessed one of the greatest nights in the club’s history. The London club is enjoying a dream campaign after already winning major silverware in recent seasons, and they are now one victory away from adding a European trophy to their growing success story.
Speaking after the match, Glasner praised his players for their commitment and determination throughout the competition. The Austrian coach now has the chance to end his Palace tenure with another historic achievement when the club faces Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on May 27 at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig.
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