Crystal Palace step closer to Conference League final with win against Shakhtar

Ismaila Sarr scored the fastest goal in Conference League history as Crystal Palace put themselves in a strong position to reach the final with victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of their last-four tie.

The Senegal forward struck after just 21 seconds in Poland, getting in behind Shakhtar’s defence to collect Jean-Philippe Mateta’s pass before slotting into the far corner.

Shakhtar dominated possession after that but lacked the cutting edge as they chased an equaliser.

Instead, Palace came closest to scoring again before half-time when a flowing move ended with Daniel Munoz’s dangerous ball into the box being gathered by keeper Dmytro Riznyk just ahead of Sarr.

The Ukrainian side, who hosted the tie in Krakow due to the conflict in their country, started the second half much like Palace did the first.

And they grabbed an equaliser within two minutes of the restart as Oleh Ocheretko prodded in from close range after Kaua Elias headed on a corner.

That seemed to lift Arda Turan’s side and for a period they dominated possession, but it was Palace who threatened as Riznyk made two brilliant saves to deny first Sarr and then Mateta, who also struck the post with a hooked finish following a Chris Richards throw-in.

But Palace were not to be denied in the 58th minute when another Richards throw caused problems and fell for Daichi Kamada to sweep home his first goal for the club since October 2024 at Aston Villa in the League Cup.

With six minutes left, Kamada played a fine ball through for substitute Jorgen Strand Larsen, whose clever touch took him away from a defender before he calmly fired in a crucial third goal.

With the return at Selhurst Park on Thursday, 7 May, the impressive display gave Palace one foot in a first major European final.

Oliver Glasner’s time as Palace coach will be over at the end of the season, but he has already given Eagles fans memories of a lifetime by leading them to last season’s FA Cup triumph.

And he could finish with more silverware as the Conference League pre-season favourites put themselves in the perfect position to reach the showpiece on 27 May in Leipzig.

Crucial to Palace’s run in the competition has been key players stepping up, and Sarr continued his superb streak with an eighth goal, making him the joint top scorer this term, and taking his season’s tally to 18 in all competitions.

Six of those strikes have come in the knockouts, proving his ability to rise to the big occasion.

But Sarr has not been alone in doing that, with Mateta a handful for the Shakhtar defence before his replacement Strand Larsen claimed a decisive goal to give Palace a two-goal cushion.

The Norwegian was Palace’s record signing in the January transfer window following a deal worth up to £48m, but has struggled to live up to his price tag, having scored just three Premier League goals.

But Strand Larsen showed what he is capable of with his fine finish – his first in Europe and one that could not have come at a more important time for him and his club.