Crystal Palace is on the verge of reaching the UEFA Conference League final after a dominant performance against Shakhtar Donetsk, while Rayo Vallecano secured a narrow victory over Strasbourg in the first leg of their semifinal matchup.
Palace Cruise to Victory in Donetsk
Crystal Palace took a significant step towards the final, defeating Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 in Krakow on Thursday, April 30, 2026. The match was marked by what is reported to be the fastest goal in the history of the Conference League.
Just 21 seconds into the game, Ismaila Sarr capitalized on a direct play from kickoff, scoring a crucial early goal. This quick strike became the earliest goal ever recorded in the Conference League and immediately set the tone for the match.
Shakhtar, playing their home game in Poland, responded and controlled possession for portions of the first half, but couldn’t convert their dominance into a goal. Oleh Ocheretko leveled the score shortly after the break with a header from a corner kick, tying the game at 1-1.
However, Crystal Palace quickly regained the lead through Daichi Kamada, who scored off a rebound in the 58th minute. Jørgen Strand Larsen then sealed the victory with a goal in a counterattack, extending the lead to 3-1. This result puts Crystal Palace in a strong position heading into the second leg in London.
Rayo Vallecano Take Slim Lead
In Madrid, Rayo Vallecano edged out Racing Strasbourg with a 1-0 win. Augusto Batalla started in goal for Rayo Vallecano and maintained a clean sheet in the first leg of the semifinal. The team will now travel to France with a valuable, though slender, advantage.
The Conference League proper kicked off on October 2, 2025, and will culminate with the final in Leipzig on May 27, 2026.
Semi-finals – First Legs (Thursday, April 30)
- Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Crystal Palace
- Rayo Vallecano 1-0 Strasbourg
Second Legs (Thursday, May 7)
- Crystal Palace vs Shakhtar Donetsk (first leg: 3-1)
- Strasbourg vs Rayo Vallecano (first leg: 0-1)
Final: Leipzig (Wednesday, May 27)
Shakhtar / Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano / Strasbourg
