Crystal Palace secured a 2-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk at Selhurst Park in the UEFA Europa Conference League, with Ismaïla Sarr's second-half strike proving decisive after an own goal and a Palace goal had dominated the first half.
Crystal Palace welcomed Shakhtar Donetsk to South London on May 7th, 2026, in a crucial Europa Conference League clash. Both teams arrived seeking their first win of the competition. Palace looked to build on recent form, while Shakhtar aimed to make an impact in European football.
The match exploded into life in the 25th minute when an unfortunate moment handed Palace the lead. Pavlo Henrique turned the ball into his own net, giving Palace an unexpected advantage. The home crowd roared with approval as Palace took control of the contest.
Palace doubled their lead just nine minutes later in the 34th minute. Eguinaldo struck with precision, firing past Shakhtar's goalkeeper to make it 2-0. The Ukrainian side looked rattled as Palace dominated the opening period.
However, Shakhtar refused to surrender. The visitors created chances throughout the first half despite falling behind. They controlled possession with 65 percent of the ball but struggled to convert their opportunities into goals.
The second half saw Shakhtar emerge with renewed purpose. They pressed forward aggressively, searching for a way back into the contest. Palace sat deeper, looking to protect their advantage on the counter-attack.
In the 52nd minute, Sarr extended Palace's lead with a clinical finish. The winger latched onto a loose ball and fired it past goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk. Palace appeared to have taken complete control of the match at 3-0.
Shakhtar pulled one back but could not find the equalizer. Despite dominating possession and creating 16 total shots, they managed only one goal. The home side's defensive organization held firm under sustained pressure.
The statistics told an interesting story. Palace recorded 11 total shots with 5 on target. Shakhtar, meanwhile, generated 16 shots but only 5 found the target. Riznyk made four important saves to keep Shakhtar competitive.
Palace's xG of 1.35 reflected their clinical edge in front of goal. Sarr earned a rating of 8.0 for his match-winning performance. Tyrick Mitchell's defensive work and Wharton's midfield presence proved crucial for the hosts.
This victory sends Palace top of their group with three points from one match. Shakhtar remain level on points but face an uphill battle in the competition. Both teams will look to build on this opening fixture in their European campaigns.
