Key Takeaways:
- Crystal Palace marked their UEFA Europa League debut last night with a commanding 4-0 victory over Lech Poznan in the League Phase opener
- Yeremy Pino netted Palace’s first-ever Europa League goal, ending a 27-game goal drought, while Eddie Nketiah capped the night with a late fourth
- The Eagles extended their unbeaten European home run to seven matches, whilst Lech Poznan’s six-match away streak ended in consecutive defeats
Match Overview
Crystal Palace made a stunning entrance on their UEFA Europa League bow, sweeping past Polish side Lech Poznan 4-0 at Selhurst Park last night. This emphatic result delivered manager Pierre Sage his third win in four games across all competitions, providing a timely boost to the Eagles’ recent form.
First-Half Action: Early Drama and Clinical Finishing
The visitors almost silenced the home crowd within the opening two minutes when Lech’s record European goal scorer, Mikael Ishak, missed a golden chance from Patrik Walemark’s cross, firing wide with only the goal at his mercy.
There's your Palace. pic.twitter.com/j2dMJTt1US
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) September 17, 2026
Palace immediately responded by piling on the pressure, eventually capitalising on a defensive blunder in the tenth minute. Terry Yegbe’s errant throw-in fell directly to Yeremy Pino, who finished clinically to open his account for the club in Europe and break a long-standing run of 27 games without scoring.
Lech Poznan’s passionate away following was almost rewarded with a 21st-minute equaliser, but Ishak squandered another opportunity, sending a half-volley over the bar after being played through one-on-one. Instead, Palace punished their visitors further: six minutes later, Chris Richards powered in a header from Adam Wharton’s corner to mark his maiden European goal and double the advantage.
The hosts continued their relentless approach, earning a penalty six minutes afterward when Pino was brought down by Radoslaw Murawski. Jorgen Strand Larsen stepped up to convert confidently, smashing into the top corner for his fourth goal in three matches. A moment of panic saw Yegbe nearly score an own goal from distance, though it was ruled out for a previous offside.
| Goal Scorers | Minute | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Yeremy Pino | 10′ | Crystal Palace |
| Chris Richards | 27′ | Crystal Palace |
| Jorgen Strand Larsen (pen.) | 33′ | Crystal Palace |
| Eddie Nketiah | 89′ | Crystal Palace |
Second-Half Developments: Changes, Close Calls, and Late Drama
The intensity continued after the break, with both sides probing for goals. Lech sought to maintain their run of scoring in 16 consecutive European away matches, while Palace looked to further stamp their authority. Yeremy Pino was denied a second by Michal Gurgul’s vital sliding intervention in the 66th minute.
A significant boost for Palace arrived with the return of Ismaila Sarr, last season’s Conference League top scorer, making his first appearance of the season as a late substitute following a groin injury. Eddie Nketiah also joined the action, narrowly missing before drawing a fine save from Walter Benitez. The visitors’ night deteriorated further in the closing stages as Murawski was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Palace’s emphatic display was sealed when Nketiah slotted home in the 89th minute, marking only their second win in their last six home fixtures (D1, L3). The result extended the Eagles’ impressive unbeaten European home streak to seven (W5, D2), while Lech Poznan suffered back-to-back continental defeats for the first time since March, bringing a six-match away run to an end.
