<\/p>\n
Crystal Palace went down to a 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina on Thursday but nonetheless progressed 4-2 on aggregate to the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League, where they will meet Shakhtar Donetsk.<\/p>\n
On the other side of the draw, Strasbourg pulled off a fine comeback to book their spot in the last four against Rayo Vallecano.<\/p>\n
In Florence, Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring for Palace, before Albert Gudmundsson and Cher Ndour struck to give the Italian side hope.<\/p>\n
It was a difficult night for Oliver Glasner’s side as a first defeat in six matches in all competitions was compounded by key men Adam Wharton and Maxence Lacroix both being forced off with knocks in the first half.<\/p>\n
But most importantly the English club still remain in contention to add to their first ever major trophy, the FA Cup won last season, in their maiden European campaign.<\/p>\n
Ahead of kick-off, the Stadio Artemio Franchi held a minute’s silence for goalkeeper Alex Manninger, who died earlier Thursday aged 48 after his car was struck by a train. The Austrian spent a loan spell at Fiorentina in 2001\/02.<\/p>\n
Sarr gave Palace the start they wanted as Daniel Munoz stood the ball up for the Senegalese to head powerfully past David de Gea in the 17th minute.<\/p>\n
The header took Sarr’s total in the Conference League this campaign to seven goals in 10 appearances.<\/p>\n
Palace then offered Fiorentina a faint lifeline back into the tie just before the half-hour as Jaydee Canvot caught Rolando Mandragora in the box and Gudmundsson sent Dean Henderson the wrong way from the resulting spot-kick to get the hosts on the scoresheet.<\/p>\n
The visitors’ nerves started to jangle considerably more inside the opening 10 minutes of the second half as Ndour got the home fans rocking with a 30-yard strike that whistled into the bottom corner.<\/p>\n
However, Palace managed to take the sting out of the tie and nullify Fiorentina as they progressed to a first European semi-final.<\/p>\n
There they will face Ukrainians Shakhtar, who earlier drew 2-2 at AZ Alkmaar to progress 5-2 on aggregate.<\/p>\n
Already three goals to the good ahead of their trip to the Netherlands, Shakhtar grew their advantage when Alisson Santana opened the scoring at AZ Stadion shortly before the hour.<\/p>\n
Isak Jensen and Matej Sin hit back for the hosts inside the final 20 minutes, but it was too little, too late as Luca Meirelles’ 83rd-minute equaliser ended the tie.<\/p>\n
Trailing by two goals after the first leg, Strasbourg pulled off a thrilling comeback as they won 4-0 at home on Thursday to eliminate Mainz 4-2 on aggregate.<\/p>\n
Strikes by Sebastian Nanasi and Abdoul Ouattara wiped out Mainz’s advantage within 35 minutes.<\/p>\n
Captain Emmanuel Emegha then missed from 12 yards when he had the chance to send Strasbourg ahead for the first time in the tie on 66 minutes.<\/p>\n
But Julio Enciso tapped in from close range three minutes later, before the Dutch striker rounded off the rout at the Stade de la Meinau in the 74th minute.<\/p>\n
It was a contrasting night for their last-four opponents Rayo, after Isi Palazon’s 60th-minute goal was just enough to edge the Spaniards through 4-3 on aggregate after they lost the second leg 3-1 at AEK Athens.<\/p>\n
Prior to that strike, Zini’s brace and Razvan Marin’s spot-kick for AEK had the tie heading to extra time.<\/p>\n
The semi-final first legs will take place on April 30.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n