Ed Aarons is our man on the ground, and here’s his report. That’ll be all from me but make sure to join us for the return leg. Selhurst will be bouncing.
Strand Larsen talks to TNT: “We know the structure of the manager, we know how we want to play, sometimes you have to accept the other team is good as well so we sit a little deep today but we also do well on the counter attacks. If we were a little bit better on the counter attacks later on we could have scored more but we have to stick with what we’ve got.” What they’ve got is pretty handy.
Shakhtar didn’t really create much after grabbing that first goal. Meanwhile Palace nailed the European away day: solid at the back, clinical on the counter. I thought Strand Larsen had missed his opportunity when he cut inside to shoot but it turned into a fine, composed finish.
What a night for Glasner’s side. It took them just 21 seconds to score, only 11 minutes to regain their lead after Ocheretko’s leveller. And they’ll return to Selhurst Park with a two-goal advantage.
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FULL-TIME: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Crystal Palace
The first leg belongs to Palace.
90+5 min: Richards has another long throw to send in, probably his last of the night … and it’s headed to safety by Shakhtar.
90+4 min: Canvot shields the ball out for a goalkick and gets plenty of love from his defensive colleagues. The 19-year-old continues to impress.
90+3 min: The ball drops nicely inside the D for Johnson … but he wallops it high.
90+2 min: Lerma wins a free-kick on the left for Palace, one they’re not exactly rushing to take.
90+1 min: We’ve got five extra minutes.
90 min: Kamada makes way for Jefferson Lerma.
89 min: Nazaryna whips in a free-kick from the right but Matviyenko’s glancing header travels wide.
88 min: Kamada was a touch wayward in the first half but he’s delivered in the second with a goal and assist.
Kamada finds the ball inside his own half and slips in Strand Larsen. He’s still got plenty of work to do as he approaches the area, Shakhtar shirts rushing on to him – he cuts inside before launching a dinked finish, keeping calm to strike his first European goal for Palace.
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GOAL! Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Crystal Palace (Strand Larsen 84)
Palace make it three on the counter!
83 min: The changes continue for Shakhtar as Ocheretko and Kauā Elias make way. They combined for Shakhtar’s goal.
82 min: Crystal Palace’s defensive 5-4-1 continues to hold.
80 min: Shakhtar have another corner … but it’s a proper waste, the ball overhit and out for a goalkick.
78 min: Sarr is down for Palace after blocking a shot with his head.
76 min: Shakhtar wheel the ball about as Newertton searches for space on the left. Alisson Santana cuts in from the right for a low hit … it’s going wide but Henderson tries to collect. He fails to get a proper hold and Shakhtar have a corner.
74 min: Brennan Johnson, Europa League winner last year with Spurs (a lifetime ago), is on for Palace. Shakhtar bring on Newertton and Artem Bondarenko.
72 min: Alisson Santana can’t take on Mitchell one-on-one over on the wing as Kamada comes for backup. Another Shakhtar corner comes and goes.
71 min: Tobías is zipping down that right-hand side as Shakhtar search for the leveller.
69 min: Tobías goes on and on, dribbling down the right for Shakhtar before winning a corner. Henderson safely collects the ball from Pedrinho.
68 min: It’s long-throw time again, baby. Chris Richards’ latest effort is headed away.
67 min: Wharton finds time on the ball before Mitchell crosses from the left … Shakhtar counter, with Eguinaldo heading over from a Tobías cross.
65 min: Time for a tweak. Mateta, creator of the first goal, is off for Strand Larsen. Isaque replaces Marlon Gomes for Shakhtar.
64 min: Kauā Elias tries to wiggle away in the right channel but the ball goes out of play.
63 min: Kamada catches Alisson Santana on Shakhtar’s right, it appears, but play goes on. Muñoz commits an unnecessary foul on the other wing and this time it’s called a free-kick.
Richards sends the throw in from the left … it meets the mixer before dropping inside the area. Kamada has the space to put his left foot through it, beating the crowd and keeper with a low drive. Palace have the lead once again.
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GOAL! Shakhtar Donetsk 1-2 Crystal Palace (Kamada 58)
Time for another long throw … and this time it’s in!
57 min: Shakhtar have a free-kick from the right … Pedrinho’s ball in is headed away at the near post. Palace counter … and win a long throw. Richards sends it in … and Mateta deftly hooks the ball, hitting the post!
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54 min: Double save from Riznyk! Palace break and Mateta plays in Sarr again, inside the area … he shoots on the half-volley but Riznyk is out quick with the arms up to save from close range. Mateta is present for a follow-up but there’s not enough power on it as the keeper retreats to collects. The first one off Sarr was particularly brilliant.
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52 min: Mateta heads away inside his area before Pedro Henrique is shown a yellow for charging into Wharton. The cards are piling up.
51 min: Palace will be greatly annoyed with themselves after managing the set-pieces so efficiently in the first half.
Kauā Elias wins the key header at the near post, rising above Muñoz, and Ocheretko is free in the six-yard box for the tap-in. Game on!
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GOAL! Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Crystal Palace (Ocheretko 47)
Shakhtar’s corner count grows … and this time they make it count!
46 min: And we’re back. The sides remain unchanged as Shakhtar venture down the right … but Tyrick Mitchell stands his ground.
The thrills were fairly light after Sarr’s goal, but Shakhtar looked threatening in those opening exchanges, moving the ball at speed. They’ve had 66% of possession and six corners, too – but Palace have controlled their box well.
HALF-TIME: Shakhtar Donetsk 0-1 Crystal Palace
Ismaïla Sarr’s goal, delivered after 21 seconds, is the difference at the break.
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45 min: We’ve lost the manic energy of the first 15 minutes. But here come Palace, working it from the left wing to the right … Muñoz sends in a teasing low ball but Sarr can’t get there, Riznyk collecting.
44 min: Now it’s Pino’s turn to get a yellow, taking down Tobías inside Shakhtar’s half.
43 min: Richards sends in the throw for Palace but Shakhtar deal with it well enough.
42 min: Riznyk tries to dink the ball but it deflects off Pino, pressing high up the pitch. It leads to a long-throw chance on the left …
40 min: Riznyk collects from the corner.
39 min: Wharton’s ball beats everyone but Palace have a corner, with Lacroix waving his arms up and down to get the travelling support going.
38 min: Tobías is a touch reckless as he slides in on Mitchell and Palace have a free-kick out on the left … yellow for the Shakhtar right-back.
37 min: Mateta holds the ball up as Palace get moving on the counter, travelling down the left.
35 min: Pedrinho can’t find a teammate.
34 min: Muñoz commits a foul and Shakhtar have a free-kick from the left … Pedrinho’s over it.
33 min: Mitchell has room out on the left but Palace’s advance breaks down after a foul by Sarr.
30 min: Wharton breaks free for Palace – and is pulled down by the halfway line. Ocheretko gets a yellow for his efforts.
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29 min: Kamada overcooks a diagonal ball searching for Muñoz.
28 min: Oliver Glasner barks out the orders. His side have barely had any of the ball … but Shakhtar are still waiting for their first clear-cut chance.
27 min: Shakhtar continue to win corners … Palace continue to head them away.
26 min: The tenacious Kauā Elias wins the ball off Pino on the wing as Shakhtar refuse to let Palace break away.
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25 min: Corner to Shakhtar … but Lacroix heads away. Richards delivers a crucial interception at the far post. Another corner it is.
24 min: Pedro Henrique has a cross headed away as Shakhtar regain control.
23 min: The ball breaks nicely for Kamada … but he overhits his pass. A touch of precision and Mateta would have been in for a one-on-one.
21 min: Palace finally get a decent hold of the ball. Wharton can’t cut through Shakhtar after trying to find Muñoz.
20 min: Here comes Pedro Henrique again, with Eguinaldo ahead of him on the left wing. But Palace’s wall holds.
17 min: Shakhtar are playing at a decent pace, not keen to aimlessly roll it around at the back. Pedro Henrique, the left-back, surges forward in search of an opening.
16 min: Wharton is late with a challenge on Alisson Santana, who is already looking rather dangerous on the right.
14 min: Palace are camped inside their own half and another defensive block is required from a shot inside the area.
12 min: Alisson Santana breaks free on the right for Shakhtar, crosses and Eguinaldo nails a first-time volley … Daniel Muñoz gets in the way. Shakhtar appeal for a handball … and well, you never know nowadays. It’s not given. Turan’s team are starting to look the part.
11 min: Henderson collects a teasing inswinger.
10 min: Pino takes a Shakhtar shirt down and the Ukrainian side have a free-kick from the right … it turns into a corner after Richards heads away.
7 min: Pino is down by the edge of his own area. Turan’s smile has gone.
6 min: Adam Wharton threatens from the edge of the area after a tidy layoff from Sarr – Riznyk gets down low to collect, fairly comfortably. Nonetheless, Palace look very lively.
4 min: Shakhtar get a feel of the ball at the back. They’re already under the pump.
Mateta and Pino play a bit of foot-volley on the edge of the area before the Frenchman slips in Sarr, driving through the right channel. He keeps his cool inside the area and rolls the ball into the far corner. Twenty-one seconds is all it took.
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GOAL! Shakhtar Donestk 0-1 Crystal Palace (Sarr 1)
Just seconds!
Peeeep!
Arda Turan’s got a beaming smile on his face. Palace kick things off in this European semi-final.
The players walk out of the tunnel. Shakhtar’s players each wear the Ukrainian flag.
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If you don’t want to hang out here, this is the link for the other one:
Darijo Srna, former Croatia international and director of football at Shakhtar, speaks to TNT:
I’m not just sporting director. Sometimes I’m father, mother, sister, brother, grandpa … we have a young team, lot of young players tonight from Brazil, they need adaptation, sometimes it’s not easy during the night, rockets, sirens, but we are united, we are together. And we are here to play football. We are here to give positive emotions to the Ukrainian people tonight.
Glasner makes one change from the Palace side that started against Liverpool: Brennan Johnson is replaced by Yeremy Pino. Shakhtar have seven Brazilians in their XI, as pointed out by Glasner, speaking to TNT. “It’s really awesome what we’ve done together,” he says of the European journey. “Now it’s sticking to our principles, play with confidence, trust in what we are doing.”
The teams
Shakhtar Donetsk: Riznyk, Tobías, Bondar, Matviyenko, Pedro Henrique, Ocheretko, Alisson Santana, Pedrinho, Marlon Gomes, Eguinaldo, Kauã Elias
Subs: Tvardovskyi, Traoré, Marlon Santos, Newertton, Isaque, Azarov, Ghram, Bondarenko, Nazaryna, Lucas Ferreira, Luca Meirelles, Obah
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Canvot, Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell, Sarr, Mateta, Pino
Subs: Matthews, Benítez, Lerma, Johnson, Clyne, Hughes, Strand Larsen, Sosa, Riad, Devenny, Cardines
There’s also this interview with Turan by Nick Ames from last July to get stuck into. He’s learned from the best.
With Simeone and Luis Enrique I had very valuable chats and discussions. They were excellent teachers but I also believe good students should improve on what they have been taught. I have a lot of positives in my pocket and now I’m trying to put them into practice on the pitch.
And here’s Ed on Palace and Glasner, who won the Europa League at Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022.
Here’s Ed Aarons’ excellent piece on Shakhtar’s journey.
Shakhtar reached the last four of the Europa League in 2016 and 2020 before Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 changed everything. Most of the club’s foreign players departed after special Fifa regulations allowed them to leave for free. Shakhtar failed with a claim for up to €50m in compensation and were forced to start from scratch.
Preamble
Yes, the one in Nottingham is a tantalising fixture … but this’ll be good, too, promise. Oliver Glasner has entered the final weeks of his spell at Crystal Palace with a prize still available; the club who took 120 years to win their first major trophy could make it two in two. They’re in Krakow after sweeping aside Fiorentina in the quarters, a 3-0 win at home in the first leg allowing for a 2-1 loss in the second.
In the other corner, Arda Turan’s Shakhtar Donetsk. The former Atlético Madrid and Turkey midfielder is on his way to a league title in his first season at the helm, with Shakhtar eyeing up their second European trophy – they won the Uefa Cup in 2009, right before the Europa League rebrand. His side are here after a 5-2 aggregate victory over AZ Alkmaar. All of their Conference League “home” games this season have been played at the Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium, owing to obvious reasons. “There is war in Ukraine and yet people live their lives,” said Turan. “Every day shows that this nation never gives up.” We get going at 8pm BST.
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