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Match report<\/p>\n
Time to sign off \u2013 I\u2019ll leave you with Ed Aarons\u2019 report from a rocking Selhurst Park. Goodnight!<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis is what our fans deserve, because they are always behind the team,\u201d Glasner adds. \u201cA ninth away trip in this tournament, and they can enjoy it. It was our 55th game (of the season) today, and nobody looked fatigued.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor me personally, this final is massive,\u201d Glasner adds. \u201cAfter I announced I would leave, my duty was to work even harder, to make our fans proud. It\u2019ll be a fantastic last game (for me), playing for European silverware. We\u2019ll give it everything we have.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Oliver Glasner: \u201cI think everyone saw how good Shakhtar are, but the second goal showed everything about this team. I told the players, this is the reward you can\u2019t buy \u2013 I said it after the FA Cup final and again tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey support each other, they work hard, the defenders celebrate together. This is what defines this group, a great mentality,\u201d he says, before adding that there\u2019ll be no training tomorrow. \u201cWe were tired after the first leg, so I\u2019ll let them enjoy it tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n While we wait for some Glas-chat, Dave Konopka writes: \u201cAs an Arsenal fan, I\u2019m thoroughly pleased with this result.\u201d<\/p>\n Arsenal\u2019s final Premier League fixture is at Selhurst Park on 24 May, three days before the Conference League<\/a> final \u2013 and six before their showdown with PSG. But, respectfully, that\u2019s enough about Arsenal.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A coefficient update from Rogorn Moradan: \u201cBecause Rayo have qualified for the final AND have won both legs of their semi, Spain will have five teams in the Champions League next season, with Betis the most likely to get the extra place.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Aston Villa have beaten Forest 4-0 on the night, and 4-1 on aggregate \u2013 completing a trio of English sides in this year\u2019s European finals.<\/p>\n Champions League PSG v Arsenal, Budapest, 30 May Share<\/a><\/p>\n Mateta is more hyped than anyone, leading a crowd singalong and excitedly asking who they\u2019ll play in Leipzig. \u201cRayo Vallecano? Do we have a chance? Yes, we have a chance!\u201d And off he goes, puffer jacket billowing behind him.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Dean Henderson and Jean-Philippe Mateta are chatting to the TNT Sports crew, which includes Palace stalwart Joel Ward. \u201cIt\u2019s been difficult, the amount of games with a small squad,\u201d says Henderson.<\/p>\n \u201cWinning the FA Cup gave us confidence, we\u2019ve got an ambitious group of players. It\u2019s unbelievable, but we\u2019ve got to win the final and get what we deserve.\u201d That, of course, is a reference to the Europa League, which Palace originally qualified for.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Adam Wharton: \u201cIt\u2019s amazing, the atmosphere is exceptional, the best I\u2019ve ever heard here. You can see what it means to South London.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone just wants to do well for the club, a first trophy last year and we want to win another for the fans,\u201d he adds. \u201cWe were running thin in December, January, it was tough, but this is our reward.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel Mu\u00f1oz spots something in the crowd. Photograph: Alex Pantling\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.08 EDT<\/p>\n Stick with us for reaction from Selhurst Park as we get it. Over in Strasbourg, the hosts won a late penalty but missed it \u2013 and Rayo Vallecano have now booked their place in the Conference League<\/a> final against Palace.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Full time: Crystal Palace 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk (5-2 on agg)<\/p>\n Palace had to battle through some tough moments but were good value for their win, secured by Ismaila Sarr\u2019s second-half goal. They advance to their first major European final, in Leipzig on 27 May.<\/p>\n Oliver Glasner celebrates with Ismaila Sarr Photograph: Tolga Akmen\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.06 EDT<\/p>\n 90 mins: Traore steers a tame shot at Henderson as Palace fans begin to party in earnest. The job is done!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 89 mins: It\u2019s still Strasbourg 0-1 Rayo Vallecano (0-2 on agg), and there will be just one minute of added time at Selhurst Park.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 88 mins: Palace make more changes: the excellent Kamada is replaced by Jefferson Lerma, Will Hughes is on for Adam Wharton and Nathaniel Clyne takes the place of the relentless Daniel Munoz.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 87 mins: Lacroix urges the Palace faithful to raise the volume one more time, and they duly oblige. The final is just a few minutes away now.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 86 mins: At the other end, Kamada finds Munoz with an outrageous diagonal long ball, but his cross sails beyond Larsen and Wharton.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 84 mins: Eguinaldo, Shakhtar\u2019s brightest attacking spark, almost steers a through ball into Traore\u2019s path, but it\u2019s just beyond the big striker.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 83 mins: Every Palace player is inside their own half now as they run the clock down. Villa, meanwhile, have a fourth against Forest. It\u2019s McGinn again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 81 mins: Traore sends a poor shot wide of goal, and a tired-looking Shakhtar are running out of time.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Aston Villa lead Forest 3-0, a dramatic second-leg comeback complete. It\u2019s John McGinn with the third goal and they\u2019re heading to a final with Freiburg (probably \u2013 Braga have just pulled one back).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 79 mins: Shakhtar move forward with a series of nice angled passes, before Lacroix steps in to intercept. Centre-back Matviyenko, who\u2019s keen on a long shot, sends one high and wide of goal.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 76 mins: Almost game over here, as Munoz feeds the ball into Larsen, who turns his marker and sees his close-range shot ping away off Riznyk\u2019s heel.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 75 mins: A change for Shakhtar as Brazilian playmaker Pedrinho is replaced by Brazilian playmaker Lucas Ferreira. Lassina Traor\u00e9 gets a shot away, but it takes a deflection and bobbles through to Henderson.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 73 mins: Kamada draws a foul in the Palace half to end a spell of lukewarm Shakhtar pressure. Elsewhere, Freiburg are 3-0 up (4-2 on agg) against Braga, and are heading to the Europa League final in Istanbul.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 71 mins: The game has lost its rhythm, with Palace\u2019s second goal taking the wind from Shakhtar sails. Jorgen Strand Larsen is on for Mateta, Oli Glasner\u2019s first change of the night.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIn response to Mitchell, whilst I understand the sentiment if you removed the \u2018big five\u2019 leagues, then would the attendances at the games be enough to finance the competition?\u201d wonders Ian.<\/p>\n I think that\u2019s the difficulty \u2013 it\u2019s devalued if it\u2019s not a truly Europe-wide tournament. On the other hand, it\u2019s looking like an England-Spain final again, albeit one with a more romantic vibe than last year.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Aston Villa lead 2-0 on the night, and 2-1 on aggregate. Can Forest fight back? John Brewin is watching.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 65 mins: Pedrinho gets his half-volley on target, Henderson grabbing the ball to his left \u2013 but the offside flag has gone up.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n An alternative argument: \u201cThe Conference League<\/a> is a great competition isn\u2019t it?\u201d writes John Breenan. \u201cA possible final between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano, what\u2019s not to like about that?\u201d<\/p>\n John also wonders: \u201cAfter the furore about dropping down to Conference League, has it been better for Palace than being in the Europa League?\u201d Palace fans, get in touch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 61 mins: From the throw-in, the ball bobbles across goal where is met by Mateta\u2019s telescopic leg. Sadly, his effort is overhit and flies off in the direction of the South Norwood Morley\u2019s.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 60 mins: Mitchell, who alongside fellow wing-back Munoz has been excellent, takes aim from 25 yards out but sees his shot deflected away for a throw in.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cUnpopular opinion,\u201d warns Mitchell Porter. \u201cI think that we should remove the top five European leagues from the Conference League<\/a> and keep it for the leagues that don\u2019t have their finances.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 59 mins: The Palace back three stroke the ball around, trying to build those possession stats \u2013 it\u2019s currently 68% to 32% in Shakhtar\u2019s favour. Not that it really matters.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 56 mins: Changes for Shakhtar, as Lassina Traore replaces the busy but wasteful Elias. Newerton is also on, replacing holding midfielder Oleh Ocheretko.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n That was Palace at their devastating best on the break, and Shakhtar now need three goals to force extra time. \u201cQue sera sera, whatever will be will be, we\u2019re going to Germany,\u201d sing the exultant home fans.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Crystal Palace 2-1 Shakhtar (5-2 on agg) Sarr 52′<\/p>\n Palace break away in trademark style and after the referee plays at least two advantages, Mitchell crosses and Sarr flicks across goal, and in off the far post!<\/p>\n Isma\u00efla Sarr restores the lead on the night for the Eagles! Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianHolmesdale joy unbounded! Photograph: Dylan Martinez\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.22 EDT<\/p>\n 51 mins: Save! An unfortunate ricochet presents the ball to Elias, who drills it low and hard from a tight angle. Dean Henderson stands up and gets a foot on the ball \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.14 EDT<\/p>\n 50 mins: Isaque shows a first flash of skill as he tries to thread a pass into Elias\u2019 feet \u2013 but it\u2019s just overhit and Henderson snaffles the ball.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 48 mins: Wharton links up with Mitchell, whose cross just evades Mateta. Wharton picks it up again and lifts the ball back into the mixer, where Riznyk grabs it under pressure from Mateta and Munoz.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 47 mins: Will Palace look to be a touch less reactive in this half? They\u2019ve started with a steady spell of midfield possession \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Second half<\/p>\n Arda Turan makes a second Shakhtar change, with Alisson Santana heading off. He\u2019s replaced by Isaque Silva, a teenage talent from (you guessed it) Brazil.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Rayo Vallecano lead Strasbourg 1-0 (2-0 on agg) at half-time, and are on course for the final in Leipzig. Which begs the question: are Rayo the Spanish Crystal Palace<\/a>? It feels like a good fit, but thoughts welcome.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Elsewhere at half-time, Villa lead Forest 1-0, making it 1-1 on aggregate. The winner will probably play Freiburg in the Europa League final; they lead 2-0 (3-2 on agg) at home to 10-man Braga.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIn the light of Peter Oh\u2019s email (best of the season, I\u2019d contend), I\u2019ll be really happy with either of these teams going through, and either of Forest or Villa too,\u201d writes Gary Naylor.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I\u2019m wondering is whether that makes for a better night than the usual partisan stance of wanting the usual suspects sent packing ASAP? I suspect not \u2013 a bit sadly.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Half time: Crystal Palace 1-1 Shakhtar (4-2 on agg)<\/p>\n Palace emerge from a testing first half with their two-goal cushion intact. Pedro Henrique\u2019s own goal put them in charge, but Eguinaldo\u2019s silky equaliser means Shakhtar aren\u2019t done just yet.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45+2 mins: Shakhtar\u2019s final attacking foray of the half ends with Pedro Henrique fouling Sarr.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 mins: Three minutes of stoppage time. In the other semi-final, Rayo Vallecano lead Strasbourg 1-0 on the night, and 2-0 on aggregate. Good news for el coeficiente.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Palace hit the post! After soaking up a spell of pressure, Palace push forward and Mateta connects acrobatically with Munoz\u2019s cross. His effort beats Riznyk but clips the outside of the post!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.47 EDT<\/p>\n No penalty! The ball hit Mateta on the thigh and bounced on to his arm \u2013 and VAR doesn\u2019t seek to intervene after the referee waves play on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 40 mins: Palace are hanging on a bit as half-time approaches, and Shakhtar have a corner, pinged towards the near post by Alisson \u2013 and there\u2019s a big shout for handball!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n There\u2019s a goal at Villa Park \u2013 but which way has it gone, John Brewin?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 37 mins: Shakhtar still need two goals to pull level on aggregate, but they look capable. Alisson is involved again here, thudding an effort a few feet over the bar.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 35 mins: Woof! Seconds after the restart, Sarr sends a long shot not far wide of goal. The pace is relentless.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 Shakhtar (4-2 agg) Eguinaldo 33′<\/p>\n Shakhtar keep the ball and Henrique slips it sideways to Eguinaldo, who takes a touch and gently lifts the ball into the top corner! There\u2019s a split-second of confusion before the away fans celebrate.<\/p>\n Eguinaldo places the ball where he wants. Photograph: Andrew Boyers\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.42 EDT<\/p>\n 32 mins: Munoz storms upfield and hits a shot straight at Riznyk, and Shakhtar counter at equivalent speed, with Alisson\u2019s shot well blocked at the far post \u2026<\/p>\n
Europa League Freiburg v Aston Villa, Istanbul, 20 May
Conference League Crystal Palace v Rayo Vallecano, Leipzig, 27 May<\/p>\n