Dynamo Kyiv 0-2 Crystal Palace: Superb Eagles continue to fly in European debut

Crystal Palace extended their incredible unbeaten streak with a victory over Dynamo Kyiv in the UEFA Conference League, following impressive displays from Yeremy Pino and Adam Wharton.

As it happened

Palace began their first ever competitive match in a European competition positively, and were very much on the hunt to prolong their remarkable 18-game unbeaten run. Striker Jean-Philippe Mateta caused problems for the hosts early on, but Dynamo Kyiv were equal to the visitors’ early pressure. They began to play the game to their advantage, with scrappy fouls and misplaced passes dominating the opening exchanges.

It was a relatively promising start for the hosts, who were forced to play in Eastern Poland due to the conflict in Ukraine, until a nasty fall befell centre-half Taras Mykhavko after a collision with Maxence Lacroix. After the delay, Kyiv failed to re-establish their momentum, while Palace began to make their superior quality count. It wasn’t long before Oliver Glasner’s side found an opening – a smart cross from Yeremy Pino was met by Daniel Muñoz at the back post to net The Eagles‘ first ever goal in a European competition.

The goal came at the perfect time for the visitors as they managed to take a firm grip on the match. They came close to doubling their lead when Mateta found himself through on goal courtesy of a well-timed through ball from Daichi Kamada, but the striker managed to sky his effort over the bar amidst oncoming Kyiv defenders.

Kamada himself nearly added to Palace’s tally – a mazy run ended in a scuffed effort that was straight into the arms of goalkeeper Ruslan Neshcheret.

Palace started the second half as they ended the first. The Eagles threatened a second as Muñoz and Pino combined again, but the Spanish midfielder couldn’t convert Muñoz’s low-driven cross.

Their pressure on their opposition’s goal didn’t let up, with substitute Eddie Nketiah looking as dangerous as the man he replaced. Adam Wharton threaded a beautiful pass to the striker, before his impressive turn and finish was ruled out for offside. Nketiah, who had been a handful for the Ukrainians since coming on, deservedly got on the scoresheet, finding himself on the end of a mazy run and cross from Pino, who excelled all evening.

Adam Wharton almost set up Nketiah for his second and Palace’s third, but Neshcheret was equal to the Englishman this time.

The Eagles were in cruise control until Borna Sosa brought down Kyiv winger Oleksandr Tymchyk. The Croatian was given his marching orders due to a second bookable offence. Palace, now reduced to 10 men, had to remain vigilant in order to see out their first ever European competitive victory in their debut outing.

Dynamo Kyiv tried to carve out opportunities to get themselves back in the game, but Palace remained unsurprisingly disciplined to continue their unprecedented unbeaten streak under Oliver Glasner.

The lineups

DYN: Neshcheret; Thiare, Mykhavko, Bilovar; Dubinchak, Yatsyk, Brazhko, Tymchyk; Shaparenko; Guerrero, Yarmolenko

CRY: Henderson; Guéhi, Lacroix, Richards; Sosa, Hughes, Wharton, Muñoz; Pino, Mateta, Kamada