Palace beat Fiorentina 3-0, Mainz hit two against Strasbourg
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner applauds as Jean-Philippe Mateta is subbed during the UEFA Conference League quarter-final first-leg soccer match between Crystal Palace and Fiorentina at Selhurst Park. John Walton/PA Wire/dpa Crystal Palace defeated twice finalists Fiorentina 3-0 on Thursday in the Conference League quarter-finals and Mainz downed Strasbourg 2-0. FA Cup winners Palace led when Jean-Philippe Mateta converted a 24th minute penalty, sending goalkeeper David de Gea the wrong way.
It was 2-0 eight minutes later when Tyrick Mitchell scored in off the post on the rebound of Mateta's effort saved by De Gea. Ismaïla Sarr headed the third in the 90th to put Palace in command of the tie which concludes next week in Florence. In Mainz, Kaishu Sano opened the scoring in the 11th, getting the ball in midfield, playing a one-two with fellow Japanese Sota Kawasaki, running past two defenders and scoring in off the right post with a deflected shot.
The hosts marched on and made it 2-0 in the 19th when Stefan Posch had plenty of space to volley a Paul Nebel corner kick into the roof of the net. Strasbourg improved after the break as Valentin Barco hit the crossbar and Diego Moreira was denied by goalkeeper Daniel Batz on the rebound as Mainz held on. Elsewhere, Spain's Rayo Vallecano claimed a 3-0 victory from first half-goals by Ilias Akhomach and Unai Lopez plus a 74th-minute penalty converted by Isi Palazón.
Shakhtar Donetsk left it late before beating AZ Alkmaar with another 3-0 scoreline from Pedrinho's 72nd minute stunner into the top right corner followed by an Alisson Santana brace in the 81st and 83rd. The return legs are next Thursday. Fiorentina's David de Gea fails to stop Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr (not pictured) scoring their side's third goal of the game during the UEFA Conference League quarter-final first-leg soccer match between Crystal Palace and Fiorentina at Selhurst Park.
John Walton/PA Wire/dpa Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game during the UEFA Conference League quarter-final first-leg soccer match between Crystal Palace and Fiorentina at Selhurst Park. John Walton/PA Wire/dpa Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr and Fiorentina's Marin Pongracic (T) battle for the ball during the UEFA Conference League quarter-final first-leg soccer match between Crystal Palace and Fiorentina at Selhurst Park. John Walton/PA Wire/dpa The Mainz team celebrates the victory with their fans after the final whistle of the UEFA Europa Conference League Quarter-Final first leg soccer match between FSV Mainz 05 and Racing Strasbourg at Mewa Arena.