Glasner claims Palace win in Poland ‘simply the beginning’ as Eagles eye Convention League ultimate

Crystal Palace took an enormous stride in direction of the Convention League ultimate with a 3-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk within the first leg of their semi-final in Krakow, with Ismaila Sarr’s aim after simply 21 seconds changing into the quickest within the competitors’s historical past.

Sarr raced onto Jean-Philippe Mateta’s knockdown to fireplace into the web virtually earlier than the sport had begun, sending the travelling Palace assist into raptures on the Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium.

Oleh Ocheretko levelled two minutes into the second half, however Daichi Kamada restored the lead from a Chris Richards lengthy throw within the 58th minute earlier than substitute Jorgen Strand Larsen wrapped up a convincing victory on the counter-attack with six minutes remaining.

Palace carry a two-goal benefit again to South London for the second leg at Selhurst Park subsequent Thursday, with a spot within the Leipzig ultimate on Could 27 at stake.

“I’m very pleased and very happy with the efficiency,” supervisor Oliver Glasner advised TNT Sports activities. “Credit score to the gamers – they caught to the plan and labored very arduous, each single one in defence. We didn’t give them rather a lot. They had been a giant risk from set-plays. That is the place we conceded, however I feel we had been additionally the identical once we went ahead. After we had been on the assault, it was at all times very threatening.

“I used to be actually impressed with the response the staff confirmed once we conceded the equaliser as a result of, hastily, we had two or three huge probabilities, missed them, after which it was an extended throw-in and we took the lead once more, after which waited for our conditions. Large impacts from the bench.

“Total, we’re very happy with the efficiency, nevertheless it’s simply step one. I imagine we’ve to carry out even higher at house to go to the ultimate.”

“It’s an incredible group of individuals, of males, of characters. There may be such a giant spirit and nice togetherness and we at all times imagine in ourselves. There is no such thing as a button we are able to press to modify it on, it’s one thing we’ve created over months and years — that we all know we are able to at all times come again and rating a aim.”

Strand Larsen breaks his duck

The second that sealed the win got here from Strand Larsen, who had struggled to search out his toes in current weeks and got here off the bench to place the tie firmly in Palace’s palms.

“I wanted that. I used to be unfortunate towards Liverpool – I felt like the boldness had dropped however at all times hold going. It’s robust, two good gamers [himself and Mateta] combating for one spot, however to come back in and rating is wonderful.

“You might see after we scored early that they’re a very good staff. We needed to keep in, not lose our heads. We’re 3-1 up however there may be nonetheless a recreation to play. Vital for me and the staff to get a 3rd.

“We all know the construction of the supervisor and the staff. We needed to settle for they’re a very good staff so we needed to sit a bit deeper right now however we did nicely on the counter-attack — and if we had been even higher we might have scored extra.

“We’re not going to over-celebrate. We’re actually pleased with this, hopefully we’re going to smash it on Thursday and undergo.”