Crystal Palace 4-0 Lech Poznan

The UEFA Europa League clash in the League Phase was staged at Selhurst Park, London, on 17 September 2026. Crystal Palace hosted Polish side Lech Poznan in front of a home crowd eager to see how the English club would begin its European campaign.

How it unfolded

The match opened brightly for the hosts when Yéremy Pino opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Pino’s right-footed strike from the centre of the box found the bottom left corner, giving Palace an early lead. The momentum continued to build, and in the 27th minute Chris Richards doubled the advantage. Riding on a corner, Adam Wharton delivered a cross that Richards met with a header from the left side of the six-yard box, sending the ball into the top right corner.

Just seven minutes later, Crystal Palace completed a rapid hat-trick. Jørgen Strand Larsen stepped up to convert a penalty in the 34th minute, blasting a right-footed shot into the top left corner. The home side’s dominance was evident, but Lech Poznan’s hopes of a comeback were dampened further when Radoslaw Murawski received a yellow card in the 76th minute for a bad foul.

Ten minutes later, the same foul-related issue led to a sending-off. Murawski was shown a second yellow in the 87th minute, meaning Lech Poznan had to finish the match with ten men. Despite being a man down, Palace continued to press, and a swift counter-attack in the 89th minute produced the final goal. Eddie Nketiah, after receiving a through ball from Dwight McNeil, struck a left-footed shot from the right side of the box into the bottom left corner, sealing a comprehensive 4-0 victory.

Standout performers

Yéremy Pino set the tone with his early goal, demonstrating composure inside the box. Chris Richards added a well-timed header, while Adam Wharton’s corner provided the decisive service. Jørgen Strand Larsen kept Palace’s lead comfortable from the penalty spot, and Eddie Nketiah’s late strike showcased his finishing ability after a clever pass from Dwight McNeil. The contributions of Wharton and McNeil in the build-up to the second and fourth goals respectively highlighted Palace’s effective wing play and crossing accuracy.

Match facts

  • Final score: Crystal Palace 4-0 Lech Poznan
  • Scorers: Yéremy Pino (10'), Chris Richards (27'), Jørgen Strand Larsen (34' – penalty), Eddie Nketiah (89')
  • Assists: Adam Wharton (27'), Dwight McNeil (89')
  • Bookings: Radoslaw Murawski (Lech Poznan) – yellow card (76')
  • Sending-off: Radoslaw Murawski (Lech Poznan) – second yellow (87')
  • Venue: Selhurst Park, London

What it means

The 4-0 win awards Crystal Palace three points and a strong start to their UEFA Europa League campaign, while Lech Poznan return home without any points and must regroup after a heavy defeat and a late dismissal.