Crystal Palace took a giant stride towards the UEFA Europa Conference League final with a sensational 3‑1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, lit up by the fastest goal ever scored in the competition’s short history.
Ismaila Sarr needed just 21 seconds to put the Eagles ahead. He raced onto Jean‑Philippe Mateta’s clever through ball and slotted calmly into the far corner, leaving the Kopylivka Arena in Krakow stunned.
The Senegal international’s instant strike broke the previous Conference League speed record of 32 seconds, set by Rapid Vienna’s Ferdy Druijf against Vitesse Arnhem in 2022.
For Oliver Glasner, the result means a second major trophy is within touching distance. The Austrian guided Palace to an FA Cup upset over Manchester City last season, and his team has carried that belief into their European debut.
“When you play a semi‑final, it makes sense: I want to play the final because nobody will say it’s fine playing a semi‑final and losing. That’s why we are here,” Glasner told the pre‑match press conference.
The second leg at Selhurst Park on May 7 will almost certainly decide the finalist. No team in Conference League history has overturned a two‑goal deficit from a first leg played away. Rayo Vallecano or Strasbourg await in Leipzig on May 27.
