The Crystal Palace juggernaut is displaying no indicators of slowing down. Targets from Daniel Muñoz and the substitute Eddie Nketiah ensured Oliver Glasner's aspect marked their first look in the principle part of a European competitors with a snug victory over Dynamo Kyiv regardless of a late purple card for Borna Sosa.
It was the right reward for the three,500 supporters who had made the pilgrimage from south London to southern Poland as Palace made it 19 video games unbeaten in all competitions to determine a brand new membership file that dates again greater than 50 years.
Towards opponents who've loved loads of well-known European nights of their storied historical past however are not the identical pressure of outdated because of the ongoing battle with Russia, there was solely ever going to be one winner as Glasner's aspect confirmed they're nicely outfitted to go all the best way to the ultimate in Leipzig regardless of their inexperience at this stage.
“I'm proud that we may begin the Convention League with a win, away, towards excellent opposition,” mentioned Glasner. “I don't take into consideration this run, as a result of this already occurred, so for me, it's vital what comes subsequent. And subsequent comes Everton and a brand new stadium. Actually wanting ahead to this recreation, nice environment, nice stadium.”
He could have performed it down however it's a must to go all the best way again to 1969 for the final time Palace managed to go undefeated for 18 video games below their former supervisor Bert Head after they achieved promotion to the outdated First Division for the primary time of their historical past. Lately, the south Londoners are a longtime pressure within the Premier League and got here into this match brimming with confidence after their very good efficiency within the win over Liverpool on Saturday courtesy of Nketiah's late winner.
Glasner's reverse quantity Oleksandr Shovkovskyi rested half of his first-choice aspect for his or her league recreation on the weekend and the veteran former West Ham ahead Andriy Yarmolenko was a kind of recalled. Kyiv's gamers emerged from the tunnel earlier than kick-off with Ukrainian flags draped over their shoulders, with an identical variety of dwelling supporters in attendance at a floor that's 400 miles from their dwelling.
In a contest that they've began because the bookmakers' favourites, Palace are prone to face a distinct problem of getting to interrupt groups down reasonably than hitting them on the break. Other than a harmful cross from Yeremy Pino that Jean-Philippe Mateta simply did not make contact with within the eleventh minute as he celebrated his first call-up to France's senior squad, they struggled to create something significant towards a decided Kyiv defence.
Maxence Lacroix required therapy after clashing heads with Taras Mykhavko halfway by means of the primary half, with the Kyiv defender having to be withdrawn after trying to come back again on. He left the pitch wanting distinctly groggy.
The Ukrainian champions didn't even handle to exchange him earlier than they discovered themselves trailing. Pino discovered house down the left flank and drilled a cross to the again put up, with Muñoz rising to someway loop his header into the far nook. The Palace followers behind the purpose couldn't comprise their delight and responded to a subsequent request from the stadium announcer to solely present “optimistic feelings” by launching right into a loud refrain of anti-Uefa chants.
Sosa had a golden alternative to double their lead simply earlier than half-time however Ruslan Neshcheret was equal to his volley from Muñoz's cross.
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With Sunday's journey to Everton in thoughts, Glasner withdrew Mateta on the break and changed him with Nketiah. He was compelled into one other change when Will Hughes went down a couple of minutes after the restart.
Nketiah had the ball within the web after being arrange by Adam Wharton, just for it to be dominated out for offside. However he didn't have to attend lengthy for an additional probability when Pino wriggled free down the left and the previous Arsenal striker volleyed in his cross.
Nketiah almost scored once more with a speculative shot from distance that was virtually spilled into his personal web by Neshcheret as Palace continued to dominate.
Sosa's determination to launch right into a sort out on Oleksandr Tymchyk and earn himself a second yellow card three minutes after being proven his first may have put a dampener on Palace's good day. However such is the standard of their defence today that Palace by no means appeared like conceding as they kicked off their Convention League marketing campaign in fashion.
