Crystal Palace Open Conference League Campaign with Comfortable Win over Dynamo Kiev

Crystal Palace made history as they began their Conference League journey with a composed 2-0 victory against Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kiev at the Motor Lublin Arena in Poland.

Daniel Muñoz etched his name into the club’s record books by scoring Palace’s first-ever European away goal, before substitute Eddie Nketiah doubled the lead in the second half. Both strikes were created by precision deliveries from Yeremy Pino on the left wing. The result extends Palace’s remarkable unbeaten run to 19 matches – the longest streak without defeat in their history.

Despite Borna Sosa being dismissed in the final quarter of an hour after collecting two yellow cards in quick succession, Palace comfortably preserved their advantage. Dynamo, currently based in Lublin due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, rarely troubled the visitors and did not manage an attempt on target until stoppage time.

The display underlined Palace’s growing confidence, following on from their impressive victory over Premier League leaders Liverpool last weekend. Already holders of both the FA Cup and Community Shield, the Eagles looked assured as they navigated their first-ever group-stage appearance in European competition.

Managerial rotation saw Sosa and Will Hughes come into the starting XI, with Tyrick Mitchell and Ismaïla Sarr named among the substitutes. The contest began in symbolic fashion, with every Dynamo player draped in the Ukrainian flag during the pre-match handshakes. Palace immediately seized the initiative, testing the hosts with direct balls over the top. Marc Guéhi twice picked out Jean-Philippe Mateta, but the French striker – celebrating his maiden national team call-up – was unable to convert.

Palace’s breakthrough arrived in the 31st minute. With Dynamo temporarily reduced to 10 men as Taras Mykhavko received treatment for a head injury, Pino swung in a teasing cross from the left. Muñoz rose above Vladyslav Dubinchak and guided his header beyond goalkeeper Ruslan Neshcheret, ensuring a landmark moment for the London club.

The visitors maintained pressure as Sosa volleyed straight at Neshcheret, before Daichi Kamada surged into the penalty area only to produce a tame effort. At half-time, Mateta was withdrawn for Nketiah, who thought he had scored minutes after his introduction – only for the offside flag to intervene.

There was no reprieve for Dynamo in the 59th minute, however. Pino once more tormented Volodymyr Brazhko before curling an audacious outside-foot cross to Nketiah, who met it first time with a controlled volley.

Adam Wharton, increasingly influential in midfield, nearly added a third when he tested Neshcheret from range, while Nketiah was again denied by the Dynamo goalkeeper after being released through on goal.

Sosa’s evening ended prematurely when, already cautioned for a foul on Shola Ogundana, he lunged recklessly into Oleksandr Tymchyk and was duly shown a second yellow card. Even with the numerical advantage, Dynamo created little, their only real effort arriving deep into added time when Oleksandr Karavaiev’s glancing header was comfortably saved by Dean Henderson.

Palace remained the stronger side in the closing moments, with Wharton again forcing a stop from Neshcheret and substitute Sarr seeing his strike blocked.

The result not only reinforced Palace’s European credentials but also demonstrated the confidence and cohesion fuelling their longest unbeaten run to date.