Crystal Palace took a massive stride toward their first-ever major European final with a commanding 3-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in Krakow on Thursday night.
Ismaïla Sarr silenced the home crowd in the opening minute, and while Oleh Ocheretko equalized shortly after the restart, strikes from Daichi Kamada and Jørgen Strand Larsen ensured a decisive first-leg advantage.
The Eagles dominated much of the contest at the Henryk-Reyman Stadium, with Kamada particularly impressive as he orchestrated the midfield in the absence of key personnel.
The two sides will reconvene at Selhurst Park next Thursday, where Oliver Glasner’s men aim to protect their two-goal cushion and book a place in the UEFA Conference League final.
Meanwhile, South Africa head coach Hugo Broos has confirmed Bafana Bafana’s final preparation plans for the 2026 World Cup, including two low-key friendlies.
South Africa will face Nicaragua on May 29, followed by a clash against Puerto Rico at their training base in Pachuca, Mexico, in early June.
Broos emphasized that these fixtures against lowly ranked opponents—Nicaragua at 131st and Puerto Rico at 156th—are designed to build tactical rhythm and player cohesion.
These matches mark a historic moment for Bafana, as they have never previously faced either nation in international competition during their long history since readmission.
The training camp in Mexico will also focus on high-altitude adaptation before South Africa kicks off their World Cup campaign against the hosts on June 11.
