Crystal Palace FC moved a step closer to a historic European final after securing a 3–1 away victory over FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League semi-final on Thursday.
Goals from Ismaila Sarr, Daichi Kamada, and Jørgen Strand Larsen gave the English side a strong advantage in the tie played in Krakow, Poland, despite a spirited performance from the Ukrainian champions.
Shakhtar, who continue to compete in European competitions while playing away from Ukraine due to the ongoing war with Russia, initially responded well after conceding an early goal. However, their resilience was eventually undone by Crystal Palace’s superior depth and attacking quality.
Sarr opened the scoring just seconds into the match after a swift attacking move, while Shakhtar equalised early in the second half through Oleh Ocheretko. Palace, however, regained control as Kamada restored their lead before Strand Larsen sealed the victory with a composed finish late on.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner praised his team’s performance, describing the result as a “good half-time lead” but stressing that the tie is not yet over.
The Premier League side, FA Cup winners last season, are now in a strong position to reach their first-ever European final, with the second leg still to come.
A potential final in Leipzig on May 27 awaits the winner of the tie between Rayo Vallecano and Strasbourg, with Rayo currently holding a narrow advantage.
