🏆 Crystal Palace best Rayo to secure first-ever European trophy 🦅 | OneFootball

Crystal Palace are flying high as their fairytale run continues, with Olivier Glasner's side securing a first-ever European trophy thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over La Liga outfit Rayo Vallecano in the Europa Conference League final.

Goalscorers: Mateta (51')

Despite full-throated support from both sets of supporters at Red Bull Arena, it was a cagey opening 45 minutes in Leipzig.

The best chance of the half came when Adam Wharton, fresh off his England snub, picked out Tyrick Mitchell at the back post, but the diving header from the left-back could only glide wide of Augusto Batalla's post.

But the second half would begin with renewed urgency, with an early warning shot across Rayo's bow coming from a last-gasp tackle by Florian Lejeune to deny compatriot Jean-Philippe Mateta an opener just after the restart.

Mateta would not be denied for long, however, sending Palace fans into delirium in the 51st minute with a close-range tap-in after Wharton's effort from outside of the box was parried by Batalla, only to fall to the World Cup-bound forward.

Palace nearly struck for a second time minutes later, first through a Yéremi Pino free-kick which struck both posts before Mateta was denied a brace soon after.

Heading into the final 10 minutes, Rayo's underdog status continued to show, as Iñigo Pérez's Los Franjirrojos struggled to offer any consistent threat to Palace's back line.

The loan strike from Mateta would ultimately be enough for Glasner to build on his legacy at Selhurst Park, signing off his time in the English capital in triumphant fashion.

📸 TOBIAS SCHWARZ - AFP or licensors