Crystal Palace won the first leg of the Europa Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 on April 30, 2026, at Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana in Kraków, Poland. The result makes Palace strong favorites to reach the final despite their lower league standing.
Ismaila Sarr made history by scoring the fastest goal in the competition’s history, netting just 21 seconds into the match. Daichi Kamada added a second goal for Palace after a swift counter-attack.
Jorgen Strand Larsen sealed the victory with a third goal. Shakhtar’s only response came from Oleh Ocheretko, who scored from a corner in the second half.
Despite having only 29% possession, Crystal Palace created more scoring opportunities than their opponents. This efficiency proved crucial in securing their lead.
The match took place in Poland due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, marking the first-ever meeting between these two clubs.
Oliver Glasner praised his 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.”
Jorgen Strand Larsen reflected on his performance: “I needed that; I was unlucky last game against Liverpool, so I felt the confidence had dropped a little bit, but always kept on going and it is tough as we have two good players fighting for one spot.”
The final of the Europa Conference League is scheduled for May 27 in Leipzig. Crystal Palace will play the return leg at Selhurst Park next Thursday.