Shakhtar Donetsk produced a spirited display but ultimately fell to a clinical Crystal Palace side in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final clash, played at Stadion im. Henryka Reymana in Kraków.

On paper, the numbers tell a confusing story. Shakhtar dominated possession (70% to 30%), overwhelmed their opponents in corners (13 to 1), and led in attacking sequences (60 to 20). Yet the scoreboard painted a different picture — a ruthless 3-1 victory for Crystal Palace. Football, once again, defied logic.

The tone of the match was set almost instantly. Just 22 seconds in, Ismaïla Sarr, the competition’s top scorer, sliced through the Shakhtar defence between Pedro Henrique and Mykola Matviyenko, before calmly slotting into the bottom corner. It was the fastest goal in Europa Conference League history — a nightmare start for the Ukrainian side.

Adam Wharton nearly doubled the lead minutes later with a precise low strike, but Dmytro Riznyk responded brilliantly to keep Shakhtar in the contest.

Controversy soon followed. A dangerous delivery from Alisson Santana found Eguinaldo, whose effort appeared to strike a defender’s hand inside the box. However, referee Felix Zwayer waved away penalty appeals, awarding only a corner — much to the frustration of the hosts.

Shakhtar finally found their breakthrough early in the second half. Their persistence from set-pieces paid off as their seventh corner led to an equaliser. After a flick-on from Kauan Elias, Heorhii Ocheretko reacted quickest to stab the ball home and restore parity.

But parity didn’t last long. Crystal Palace responded with authority. On 54 minutes, Riznyk pulled off a stunning double save to deny Jean-Philippe Mateta and Sarr from close range — a moment that briefly kept Shakhtar alive.

Just four minutes later, however, the visitors struck again. Following a long throw-in, the ball fell kindly to Daichi Kamada, who unleashed a powerful finish from inside the area to make it 2-1.

Shakhtar pushed forward relentlessly in search of another equaliser, but their attacking intent left them exposed. In the 84th minute, Crystal Palace delivered the decisive blow on the counter. Jørgen Strand Larsen, played through by Kamada, outmanoeuvred Matviyenko and coolly finished past Riznyk.

2025-26, Conference League

Shakhtar - Crystal Palace 1:3 (0:1)
Goals: Sarr Is., 1 (0:1); Ocheretko, 47 (1:1); Kamada, 58 (1:2); Strand Larsen, 84 (1:3)

Shakhtar: Riznyk D.; Vinicius Т.; Pedrinho A.; Matviyenko; Bondar V.; Pedrinho (Bondarenko A-m, 74); Ocheretko (Nazaryna, 83); Alisson Santana; Eguinaldo (Newerton, 74); Marlon Gomes (Isaque, 65); Kauã Elias (Traoré Las., 83)
Substitution: Isaque (from 65); Bondarenko A-m (from 74); Newerton (from 74); Nazaryna (from 83); Traoré Las. (from 83)
Bench: Tvardovskyi; Ghram; Marlon; Azarov I.; Prosper; Lucas Ferreira; Luca Meirelles
Yellow Cards: Vinicius Т.; Ocheretko 30; Pedrinho A. 52

Crystal Palace: Henderson D.; Muñoz D.; Lacroix M.; Canvot; Mitchell T.; Richards Chr.; Wharton A.; Sarr Is.; Pino Y. (Johnson B-n, 73); Kamada (Lerma, 90); Mateta (Strand Larsen, 65)
Substitution: Strand Larsen (from 65); Johnson B-n (from 73); Lerma (from 90)
Bench: Matthews Remi; Benitez W.; Riad Chadi; Clyne; Sosa B.; Cardines; Hughes W.; Devenny
Yellow Cards: Pino Y. 44; Canvot 58