Crystal Palace lifted their first European trophy and punched their ticket to the Europa League after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s second-half goal proved the difference during their 1-0 Conference League final victory over Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.
It marked the final chapter of a fairytale run for Palace boss Oliver Glasner, who, after guiding the Eagles to an historic FA Cup triumph and the Community Shield last season, is departing the south London club after spearheading the most successful period in their history.
Mateta nearly left the Eagles in January, 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 with the France forward.
He vowed to give 100 per cent to Glasner and his teammates, and emphatically completed his redemption arc when he 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.
Adam Wharton’s participation was a concern ahead of the contest, but Glasner promised he would only start players who were “100 per cent fit”, and the midfielder was in the line-up, while Chris Richards began the game on the bench.
Both thunderous fanbases lit flares before kick-off, when those in the Palace end – a sold-out contingent of about 13,000 that complemented many more in general seating – 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 group – 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 disbelief in front of Augusto Batalla’s goal.
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, but 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.
