Palace chase final as Glasner warns after 3-1 win; Sarr fires fastest goal
Palace chase final as Glasner warns after 3-1 win; Sarr fires fastest goal
Crystal Palace take a 3-1 lead over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Conference League semi-final first leg, with Sarr’s 21-second strike and a stern Glasner warning to maintain form in the return leg.
Crystal Palace opened the Conference League semi-final with a 3-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk, ignited by Ismaila Sarr’s astonishing 21-second goal — a record quickest in the competition. Oliver Glasner immediately tempered celebrations, insisting the Eagles must be “even better” in the second leg if they want to seal a spot in the final.
Palace set the tempo from the outset, riding the early goal to control most of the proceedings and put real pressure on their Ukrainian opponents. The result leaves the tie hanging in the balance, with a spirited Shakhtar side capable of overturning the deficit on home soil in the return leg. Glasner’s message was clear: the job isn’t done yet, and Palace will need to lift again to reach Europe’s showpiece match.
The moment that captured attention came in under half a minute — Sarr’s rapid-fire strike rewriting the record books for the Conference League and giving Palace a convincing edge going into the second leg. If they can maintain that level and tighten up their game, the dream of a final appearance inches closer for the Eagles.
