Crystal Palace taste European glory as they beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in Leipzig to win Conference League
The trophy is Palace's third in two seasons and means their European adventure will continue into next term
Crystal Palace have won the UEFA Conference League after beating Rayo Vallecano in the Leipzig final to claim their maiden European trophy.
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Palace won the match courtesy of Jean-Philippe Mateta's strike in the 50th minute - an almighty turnaround in fortunes for the Frenchman, who looked set to leave the south London side in January.
Mateta nearly left the Eagles for AC Milan, only remaining after a knee issue denied him medical clearance for a desired move to AC Milan which left some sections of the Palace support unhappy.
But after being booed as recently as March, he has written himself into Palace folklore with a goal that will live long in the memory.
Completing his redemption arc, Mateta pounced on the rebound of a parried Adam Wharton effort to put Palace in the ascendancy, treating the euphoric Eagles fans to his signature corner-flag kick.
Despite throwing everything at Palace, Rayo could not find enough in front of goal to breach Dean Henderson's net.
Palace entered the Conference League by virtue of being FA Cup winners, and the European glory has secured departing manager Oliver Glasner's legacy as he leaves for pastures new.
The German, who guided the Eagles to an historic FA Cup triumph and the Community Shield last season, is departing the south London club after spearheading their most successful period in history.
The south London side will now enter the Europa League for the first time, continuing their European adventure for another season.
Palace's triumph in east Germany is the second part of what could prove to be an almighty English treble.
Last week, Aston Villa claimed the second-tier Europa League with a thumping of Freiburg in Istanbul.
Palace's victory on Wednesday leaves Mikel Arteta's title-winning Arsenal side needing to beat Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday to secure a clean sweep of European trophies for English clubs.
Both thunderous fanbases lit flares before kick-off, when those in the Palace end – a sold-out contingent of about 13,000 complementing masses more in general admission – raised a banner reading ‘this story shall the good man teach his son’, a reference to King Henry V’s rallying cry to his soldiers in Shakespeare’s eponymous play.
Their accompanying tifo featured a fan, wearing a Palace shirt reading ‘Ultras 05’ – the founding year of the Holmesdale Fanatics – staring out an airport window. Beside him, a departures board showed ‘Liquidation cancelled, FA Cup landed, Europa League boarding’.
Many had arrived at the RB Arena via a boisterous fan march from the city centre, while back at home, more than 10,000 Eagles supporters who had not made the trip gathered in Selhurst Park.
It took a timely Florian Lejeune tackle to stop the early run of Ismaila Sarr, who had been spotted by Jean-Philippe Mateta shortly after kick-off, then Dean Henderson was called in to collect two Rayo crosses.
The Spanish side threatened just before the half-hour when Brazilian forward Alemao connected with a cross which had evaded Chadi Riad and spun a volley just past the right post.
The contest was paused in the 38th minute due to a medical emergency in the stands, and it remained goalless at the break after Tyrick Mitchell nodded a free header just wide from an excellent Wharton delivery in stoppage time – his regret visible as he remained sprawled in front of Augusto Batalla’s goal in disbelief.
Mateta, famous for his flag-kicking celebrations, finally got to demonstrate one to the 39,176 in attendance in Leipzig in the 51st minute.
Rayo did not do enough to stop Wharton, who stung Batalla’s palms, and the Frenchman reacted quickly to turn the rebound in from close range and put Palace in the driver’s seat.
The Eagles could not have come closer to a second moments later when Yeremy Pino’s free-kick hit both posts and Mateta’s follow-up also clipped the woodwork in a spectacular sequence.
Cushion denied, it was a nervy finish as the LaLiga outfit dialled up the pressure for a late equaliser, Glasner’s men continued to hold firm.
The Austrian said on Tuesday that the best parting gift his players could give him would be the opportunity to watch them in the Europa League next season.
His men fought off five minutes of stoppage time and granted him his wish.