Ismaila Sarr nets fastest goal as Crystal Palace close in on European final

By Rachel Steinberg, Press Association

Crystal Palace have one foot in the Conference League final after Ismaila Sarr scored the quickest goal in the competition’s history to open their 3-1 semi-final first-leg victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Senegal international scored 21 seconds into the contest at the Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium in Krakow, where the hosts have played their home European games due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Oleh Ocheretko drew the sides level two minutes into the second half before Japanese midfielder Daichi Kamada became the Eagles’ unlikely hero, firing them back in front two minutes before the hour.

He then turned provider for second-half substitute Jorgen Strand Larsen, who added a late cushion and fired Palace even further down the road to Leipzig with six minutes remaining.