Crystal Palace launch Europa League campaign with 4-0 win over Lech Poznan

Crystal Palace began their first UEFA Europa League campaign with a convincing 4-0 victory over Lech Poznan at Selhurst Park, giving manager Pierre Sage a third win in four matches.

The hosts recovered from an early warning to take control. Lech should have scored inside two minutes when Mikael Ishak failed to turn in Patrik Walemark’s cross, sending his effort wide with the goal unguarded.

Palace made the visitors pay after 10 minutes. Terry Yegbe’s poor throw-in went straight to Yeremy Pino, who kept his composure to score Palace’s first Europa League goal. It was also Pino’s first club goal in 27 matches.

Lech continued to create openings, with Ishak missing another clear chance in the 21st minute. After breaking through one-on-one, he lifted a half-volley over the crossbar.

Palace doubled their lead six minutes later. Adam Wharton’s corner caused problems in the Lech defence and Chris Richards climbed highest to head home his first goal in European competition.

The third arrived in the 33rd minute after Pino was brought down in the penalty area by Radoslaw Murawski. Jorgen Strand Larsen took responsibility and sent a powerful penalty into the top corner.

That was Strand Larsen’s fourth goal in three matches, and Palace appeared capable of extending their advantage before the interval.

Lech briefly believed they had conceded a fourth when Yegbe inadvertently diverted a long-range effort into his own goal. However, the goal was disallowed because Strand Larsen had been offside earlier in the move.

The Polish side attempted to respond after half-time, aware that they needed a goal to give themselves any hope of recovering.

Pino nearly added another in the 66th minute, but Michal Gurgul made an excellent sliding challenge to stop the Palace forward from finishing.

Sage then sent on Ismaila Sarr for his first appearance of the season after recovering from a groin injury. Sarr had been Palace’s leading scorer in last season’s Conference League campaign.

Eddie Nketiah also came off the bench and went close before pulling an effort wide of the far post. At the other end, Lech goalkeeper Walter Benitez produced a sharp low save to deny Gurgul.

Lech’s frustrations boiled over late in the match when Murawski was shown a second yellow card and sent off.

Palace completed the scoring in the 89th minute as Nketiah found the bottom corner to make it 4-0.

The victory ended a difficult spell of home form for Palace, who had won only one of their previous five matches at Selhurst Park.

Their European record at home remains impressive, though. Palace are now unbeaten in seven European matches at Selhurst Park, recording five wins and two draws.

The result also ended Lech’s six-match unbeaten away run in European competition as Palace made a strong start to their Europa League campaign.