Crystal Palace win UEFA Conference League

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Crystal Palace 1 - 0 Rayo Vallecano

Jean-Philippe Mateta fired Crystal Palace to their first European trophy as the Eagles edged past Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final.

Author | Ajay

Stadium | Red Bull Arena

The French striker turned in the rebound from an Adam Wharton effort early in the second half in Leipzig to seal a famous victory.

Outgoing Palace manager Oliver Glasner departs having guided the club to the FA Cup, Community Shield and now the Conference League during a remarkable two-and-a-half-year spell at Selhurst Park.

Before the game, inside and outside the stadium, both sets of fans created an incredible atmosphere. This only added to what was going to be a historic occasion.

With both sides contesting their first European final, a cautious opening at Red Bull Arena, home of RB Leipzig, felt understandable.

Alemao dragged a decent opportunity wide before Unai Lopez curled an effort just past the post in the Spanish side’s best moments of the first half.

The clearest opening before the interval fell to Palace when Tyrick Mitchell headed wide after being picked out superbly by Wharton inside the area.

Palace made the breakthrough six minutes after the restart

Wharton’s strike was pushed into Mateta’s path by Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla, allowing the forward to convert from close range.

It was Mateta’s 16th goal of the season for Palace and came after a January move to AC Milan collapsed following a knee injury.

Yeremy Pino later struck both posts from a free-kick before setting up Mateta for another opportunity, although Batalla produced an excellent save on that occasion.

Rayo, operating with the smallest budget in La Liga, struggled to carve out meaningful chances in the closing stages as Palace held firm to secure a historic triumph and give Glasner the perfect farewell in his final match in charge.

Location: Am Sportforum 3, 04105 Leipzig, Germany

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