Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano, Conference League Final: Eagles Bask In Their First-Ever European Trophy
Crystal Palace didn’t want to be in the third-tier Conference League and Jean-Philippe Mateta nearly left the club. On Wednesday, it was Mateta’s goal that won Palace the title. A season which began with pleas to play in a higher competition ended with Palace’s first-ever European trophy as Mateta’s goal lifted his team to a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano in the final. The French forward, who was close to leaving in January before a transfer collapsed, scored on a rebound in the 51st minute after Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla parried Adam Wharton’s long-range shot. Along with giving outgoing coach Oliver Glasner the perfect send-off, Palace’s win, which came in its first season playing in Europe, keeps English teams on track for a sweep of the three main European men’s club competitions.
Crystal Palace players celebrate with a trophy after the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany. | Photo: AP/Ebrahim Noroozi
Crystal Palace's head coach Oliver Glasner, left, and Palace owner Steve Parish hold the trophy after winning the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany. | Photo: Robert Michael/dpa via AP
Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix celebrates after the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany. | Photo: AP/Ebrahim Noroozi
Crystal Palace fans celebrate their team's win as they watch a screening of the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano, at Selhurst Park in London. | Photo: Ben Whitley/PA via AP
Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrates with the trophy after the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany. | Photo: AP/Ebrahim Noroozi
Rayo players react after the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany. | Photo: AP/Michael Probst
Referee Maurizio Mariani shows a yellow card to Rayo's Alfonso Espino during the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany. | Photo: AP/Markus Schreiber
Crystal Palace's Jorgen Strand Larsen falls during the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany. | Photo: AP/Ebrahim Noroozi
Crystal Palace's Chadi Riad, foreground, and Rayo's Alemao challenge for the ball during the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany. | Photo: AP/Michael Probst
Rayo's Unai Lopez, right, tackles Crystal Palace's Daichi Kamada during the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany. | Photo: AP/Markus Schreiber
Crystal Palace fans celebrate after their team scored a goal as they watch a screening of the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in London. | Photo: John Walton/PA via AP
Crystal Palace fans celebrate during the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany. | Photo: AP/Ebrahim Noroozi
Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrates after scoring during the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany. | Photo: Robert Michael/dpa via AP
Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of his team during the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany. | Photo: AP/Michael Probst
A fan of Rayo uses his phone to call for a doctor to come to the stands during the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany. | Photo: AP/Michael Probst
Fans of Crystal Palace display their tifo before the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany. | Photo: AP/Markus Schreiber
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