Keep this up and Crystal Palace. �s European adventure could end in yet another trophy for Oliver Glasner, as the Eagles delivered a commanding perfor...
Keep this up and Crystal Palace. �s European adventure could end in yet another trophy for Oliver Glasner, as the Eagles delivered a commanding performance against Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi final. Four years ago it was Daichi Kamada who scored the winning goal for Glasner. �s Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League semi final against West Ham, and the Japan midfielder again provided the crucial moment here before setting up the substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen to ensure Palace will head into next week. �s second leg with a two goal advantage. But they will know that this tie is far from over after a vibrant Shakhtar Donetsk side stuffed with Brazilian flair caused them plenty of problems before cancelling out Ismaïla Sarr. �s opener after just 21 seconds, the fastest goal in Conference League history. The Senegal forward now has eight goals in 11 appearances so far in this competition and, like Kamada who is out of contract at the end of the season and received a standing ovation from the Palace fans when he was taken off, he is quickly cementing his status as a Palace legend. In the scheme of things, this was a night when the Eagles gave a good account of themselves, with the Nigerian connection adding extra spice as Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface watched from the stands, though he was not on the pitch. At the end of the day, the powers that be at Crystal Palace will be pleased with the result, but the lion. �s share of the work still lies ahead in the return leg. In Lagos, fans gathered at viewing centres across Surulere and Ikeja erupted in celebration when Strand Larsen slotted home the second goal, with one supporter in a green and white jersey shouting that the Eagles have one foot in the final. Another fan, wearing a Crystal Palace kit, declared that this is the best English side to visit Nigeria since the Super Eagles themselves, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd. The atmosphere was electric, with bottles of malt and sachets of water passed around as the match ended, and many already making plans to gather again for the second leg in Ukraine. For now, the Nigerian football community is buzzing, and the debate over whether Palace can go all the way continues to simmer in every corner of the country.
