Crystal Palace demolish Lech Poznan 4-0 to mark Europa League debut at Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace announced themselves on the Europa League stage with a 4-0 demolition of Polish champions Lech Poznan at Selhurst Park on Thursday, their first appearance in the competition after winning last season’s Conference League.

Yeremy Pino, Chris Richards and Jorgen Strand Larsen had the tie wrapped up inside 35 minutes before Eddie Nketiah added a fourth late on, as Palace brushed aside opponents who had made a strong start to their Polish title defence.

The result was all the more emphatic given the context: manager Pierre Sage named an unchanged side despite Saturday’s 3-2 Premier League defeat at home to Ipswich, and his team responded with their most complete performance of the young season.

Lech were the architects of their own downfall for all three first-half goals. The opener arrived in the 10th minute when Terry Yegbe sent a throw-in straight to Pino’s feet; the Spanish forward darted through a flat-footed defence and finished precisely. Richards then headed home from Adam Wharton’s corner, the ball slipping through goalkeeper Mateusz Lis’s hands at the back post. Strand Larsen converted from the spot in the 35th minute after Pino had been brought down by Radoslaw Murawski, completing a dominant opening period.

Lech were not without their moments — striker Mikael Ishak squandered two good chances and Yegbe found the side-netting — but Crystal Palace’s control was rarely threatened. Chris Richards also produced a perfectly timed tackle to deny Iranian winger Allahyar Sayyadmanesh a clear run on goal.

Murawski was dismissed for a reckless bodycheck on Jaydee Canvot late in the game, and moments later Nketiah applied the finishing touch to seal a result that could scarcely have been more comfortable.

The win carries added significance given Palace’s turbulent history with this competition. A year ago they were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League after Uefa found them in breach of multi-club ownership rules. They won that tournament, earning their way back, and Thursday’s performance suggested they intend to make the most of the opportunity.