Dynamo Kyiv 0-2 Crystal Palace: Ten-man Eagles cruise to first Conference League win | OneFootball

The Ukrainians had little response to the Eagles’ composed performance

Crystal Palace comfortably dispatched Dynamo Kyiv to launch their Conference League campaign, taking their unbeaten run to 19 matches.

In this, their first match in the league or group phase of a European competition, Palace were remarkably composed, showing no sign of nerves as they faced the champions of Ukraine.

Goals on either side of half-time from Daniel Munoz and Eddie Nketiah secured the win. Their hosts mustered just one shot on target, such was the Eagles’ dominance throughout the affair.

It was a timid start from the Eagles, who settled into their patterns quickly but struggled to create any serious goal threat.

Munoz’s opener was something of a bolt from the blue. As Yeremy Pino lofted a speculative cross to the back post, and the Colombian leapt highest with a looping header over the helpless Ruslan Neshcheret, who could only watch as his effort snuck under the crossbar.

Palace remained in the driver’s seat thereafter, though they comfortably withstood a brief spell of pressure towards the end of the first period.

Nketiah’s introduction at half-time invigorated Palace’s attack. Brimming with confidence after scoring a late winner against Liverpool last time out, he scored just minutes after his introduction, only to be ruled out for a marginal offside.

He was undeterred, though, and was on target again moments later, tapping home from Pino’s cross, set up by a mazy dribble into the corner.

With a two-goal cushion, the Eagles were content to simply see the tie out, but Sosa’s dismissal in the 76th minute rather complicated matters. Kyiv, to that point, had not managed a shot on target, and entered the final quarter of an hour with all guns blazing.

But the Londoners weathered the storm without blinking. Dean Henderson was called into action for the first time deep into stoppage time, claiming a cross which was generously deemed an attempt on goal.