Crystal Palace Edge Rayo Vallecano to Clinch Conference League Title

By Adedapo Adesanya

English top-flight football club, Crystal Palace, won their first European trophy as the South London club edged out Spanish side Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final following a lone strike from Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The French striker turned home a close-range winner on the rebound from an Adam Wharton strike early in the second half at Red Bull Arena, the home of German club RB Leipzig.

With the triumph, outgoing Palace boss Oliver Glasner leaves with the FA Cup, Community Shield and now Conference League in his CV, in a remarkable two-and-a-half-year spell at Selhurst Park.

The final was very calm with minimal chances. Rayo Vallecano striker Alemao turned a half-decent opportunity wide before Unai Lopez placed an effort past the post in the La Liga outfit’s best opportunities of the first half.

However, the best chance of the opening 45 minutes fell to Crystal Palace just before the break when Tyrick Mitchell headed wide after Wharton had found him with a superb ball into the box.

Palace took the lead just six minutes into the second half when Wharton’s strike was palmed into Mateta’s path by Vallecano goalkeeper Augusto Batalla, and the forward diverted it into the net.

It was Mateta’s 16th goal of the season for Palace – and he almost left the club in January before a knee injury halted a move to AC Milan.

Yeremy Pino then hit both posts with a free-kick before he almost set up a second goal for Mateta, which Batalla saved to keep the game at 1-0.

Vallecano, who have the lowest budget in La Liga, struggled to create any real chances late on as Palace held on for their historic moment – and delivered for Glasner in his final game as Eagles boss.

Crystal Palace had never won a major trophy until last season’s FA Cup success against Manchester City – and now have two in two seasons after opening the season with the Community Shield win over Arne Slot’s  Liverpool.

Glasner and Palace’s glory this term comes despite the loss of two key players, with Eberechi Eze sold to Arsenal last summer and Marc Guehi joining City in January.

The triumph also marks a blessing in disguise for Crystal Palace, which were denied entry to the Europa League over multi-club issues last summer (and were replaced by Nottingham Forest. This is as a result of shareholder John Textor, who owned a significant stake in Crystal Palace while also controlling Olympique Lyonnais, and both clubs qualified for the Europa League.

UEFA’s rules prohibit one person or entity from having “control or influence” over two clubs in the same competition, to protect sporting integrity.