Palace power past Lech Poznan to win on Europa League debut
Crystal Palace cruised to victory in their first-ever Europa League game with a 4-0 win over Polish champions Lech Poznan at Selhurst Park.
Report as Crystal Palace beat Lech Poznan 4-0 to claim victory on their maiden Europa League outing; Yeremy Pino opened the scoring early on, before goals from Chris Richards, Jorgen Strand Larsen and substitute Eddie Nketiah wrapped up all three points at Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace cruised to victory in their first-ever Europa League game with a 4-0 win over Polish champions Lech Poznan at Selhurst Park.
Last season's Conference League winners almost got off to the worst possible start, but Mikael Ishak missed the target for the visitors from six yards out, with just three minutes on the clock.
They were made to pay moments later when Yeremy Pino intercepted a 20-yard throw across the edge of his own penalty area from Terry Yegbe, with Pino striding into the area and popping the ball into the corner.
Palace's second was even more simple, with Chris Richards rising highest at the back post from an Adam Wharton corner to steer his header across the goalkeeper and into the net.
Pino was also instrumental in the third, intercepting on the left flank before gliding into the area where he was clumsily brought down by Radoslaw Murawski. The referee gave a penalty and Jorgen Strand Larsen made no mistake, drilling across the goalkeeper and into the top-left corner.
Murawski was sent off late in the second half after collecting his second caution of the game and Palace capitalised just before full-time with a nice finish from substitute Eddie Nketiah.
Nketiah had come on at the same time as Ismaila Sarr, who received a mixed reception from Palace fans as he made his first appearance of the season since a failed summer move to Liverpool.
3: CLOSE! Ishak spruns a gilt-edged opportunity to put Lech Poznan in front. He misses the target from close range!
10: GOAL! Pino capitalises upon an awful throw from Yegbe. He strides into the area and calmly slots Palace into the lead.
27: GOAL! Richards peels away at the back post to head in from Wharton's corner.
34: GOAL! Strand Larsen puts the penalty away emphatically. He whips it across the goalkeeper and into the top corner.
77: CLOSE! Nketiah should score after being put through by the outstretched Pino. Nketiah drags his shot wide!
87: RED CARD! Murawski is sent off after picking up a second yellow card for a ludicrous challenge!
89: GOAL! Nketiah finds some space in the area, he checks inside and guides his shot into the bottom corner.
