Palace seal their trip to that Leipzig final after repelling Donetsk's brave bid to recover two goal deficit
- By Yann Tear at Selhurst Park
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
UEFA Conference League semi-final second leg
Crystal Palace (1) 2 Pedro Henrique og 25, Sarr 52
Shakhtar Donetsk (1) 1 Eguinaldo 34
Aggregate: 5-2
The Eagles have landed. There were a few nervy moments but nothing too dramatic to disturb their peace of mind, having gone into this semi-final second leg with a two goal lead.
They are off to Germany for a final against Rayo Vallecano on May 27 - their first ever European final - just a year on from their first ever FA Cup triumph and the aftermath when they were denied a place in the Europa League for ownership technicalities.
The home fans' fun night was made even more special by the news that Nottingham Forest - who usurped their position in the bigger competition - were eliminated in their semi-final at Villa Park. The anti-Marinakis, anti-Uefa song got a familiar airing.
It all means Oliver Glasner's bid to sign off from Selhurst with the club's second historic trophy in just over a year is on course. He has already lifted the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt and is close to another bit of silverware for his personal collection too.
It was far from the most polished of performances from Palace - and in truth few have been on this journey to the final. But they had too much power at both ends of the pitch and were not worried about surrendering a lot of the ball to the gifted Ukrainians, whose finishing could not quite match their decent approach play.
Shakhtar - a club defiantly playing on in alien territory these days after the invasion of their homeland - fashioned early half-chances to ensure the Eagles had to stay honest. The Brazilian Kaua Elias dragged a shot just wide after being found in a dangerous position by Pedrinho and it reminded Palace they should not coast.
There was a further mini-jolt when Jeremy Pino had the ball in the Shakhtar net but was just offside, having raced through onto a nod on from Jean-Philippe Mateta following a Chris Richards launch from deep.
In the main, Palace sat back for 24 minutes to absorb the view as Donetsk probed and then struck with what was only their second attack of note.
Adam Wharton shimmied around a defender and let fly and although keeper Dmytro Riznyk saved at full stretch, Daniel Munoz followed up to turn the ball back towards goal from an angle and saw it clip defender Pedro Henrique and go over the line.
The home fan celebrations were starting up but it was made to seem a bit premature when Donetsk's confident possession finally bore fruit - slack marking allowing Eguinaldo to turn onto his left foot inside the box and find the top corner with a composed shot.
Palace were in need of another pick-me-up and nearly got it when Mateta's spectacular scissor kick came back off a post - Daichi Kamada and Munoz on the overlap having created the chance.
The comfort zone arrived for real seven minutes after the break. Elias had forced Dean Henderson into an important save with an outstretched foot and in the next instant, Tyrick Mitell's ball in from the left was met by the inrushing Ismaila Sarr's right boot and the ball angled in off the far post.
It effectively ended the contest.
So Leipzig awaits. A fine city for hosting football. "We're on our way!" rang out during the final minutes of a game that drifted quietly towards its by now inevitable conclusion.
Spanish opponents Rayo Vallecano overcame Strasbourg 2-0 on aggregate following a 1-0 second leg win in France and stand between Palace and what would be a third London triumph in this fledgling competition. West Ham under David Moyes and Chelsea last year both claimed the Uefa Conference League title.
Eagles: (3-4-3) Henderson - Richards, Lacroix, Canvot - Munoz (Clyne 89), Wharton (Hughes 89), Kamada (Lerma 89), Mitchell - Sarr, Mateta (Strand Larsen 66), Pino (Johnson 78)
Shakhtar: (4-1-4-1) Riznyk - Vinicius Tobias (Ghram 28), Bondar, Matviienko, Pedro Henrique - Ocheretko (Newerton 56) - Alisson Santana (Isaque h/t), Pedrinho (Pereira 75), Marlon Gomes, Eguinaldo - Kaua Elias (Bondarenko 56)
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