Munoz and Nketiah fire Crystal Palace to 2-0 win in Conference League | OneFootball

Crystal Palace carried their fine domestic form into Europe with a composed 2-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv in Poland, extending their unbeaten run to 19 matches and marking a historic first victory in the main phase of a continental competition.

Daniel Munoz opened the scoring with a looping header from Yeremy Pino’s cross midway through the first half. The Colombian full-back timed his run perfectly to meet the delivery at the back post, leaving goalkeeper Ruslan Neshcheret with no chance.

The breakthrough rewarded Palace’s patient approach after a cautious start against a Kyiv side forced to play their European fixtures away from home due to the ongoing war. The game turned more comfortable for Oliver Glasner’s team after half-time when substitute Eddie Nketiah doubled the lead.

The striker, who had scored the winner against Liverpool in the Premier League just days earlier, finished sharply from close range after Pino again created the opening with quick footwork on the left. The travelling support of around 3,500 fans erupted as Palace tightened their grip on proceedings.

Borna Sosa’s dismissal with two yellow cards in three minutes threatened to complicate matters, but Palace showed the defensive composure that has become a hallmark under Glasner. Despite being a man down for the final quarter of an hour, the Londoners never looked troubled and closed out the contest with authority.

The victory not only gave Palace three points to start their Conference League campaign but also set a new club record for the longest unbeaten run in their history, surpassing the 18-match streak of Bert Head’s side in 1969.

The record underlines the transformation that has taken place since Glasner’s appointment, with Palace now appearing as one of the competition’s strongest contenders.

Kyiv, who recalled veteran Andriy Yarmolenko for the match, showed glimpses of quality but lacked the cutting edge required to trouble a well-organised Palace defence.

The Ukrainian champions’ struggles highlighted the contrast with Palace, who managed the occasion like seasoned European performers despite their lack of experience at this level.

With their unbeaten streak continuing and their momentum carrying seamlessly from the Premier League to Europe, Palace look increasingly formidable. Their ability to combine defensive discipline with attacking efficiency makes them one of the most dangerous sides in the competition.

On this evidence, few teams will relish the prospect of facing Glasner’s well-drilled squad as the campaign progresses.