Pino inspires Crystal Palace to 4-0 Europa League win over Lech Poznań

Pierre Sage’s Crystal Palace opened their Europa League campaign with a 4-0 victory over Lech Poznań at Selhurst Park on 17 September 2026, Yéremy Pino’s goal from an opponent’s throw-in igniting the rout and Radoslaw Murawski sent off late for a reckless foul on Jaydee Canvot.

After being denied their rightful place in the Europa League last season, Palace arrived under new manager Pierre Sage tasked with replacing Oliver Glasner, who won three trophies in 12 months. There had been talk of disquiet after Sage dropped teenager Jaydee Canvot at the weekend, and Palace have conceded 11 goals in their opening four Premier League matches. Captain Dean Henderson, who signed a contract extension on Wednesday, urged supporters to “park the negativity”; he is expected to be unavailable for a few weeks with a foot injury, and Palace named 16-year-old prospect Lucca Benetton on the bench alongside the returning Ismaïla Sarr.

Lech threatened inside two minutes when captain Mikael Ishak fluffed his lines with Walter Benítez’s goal gaping, exposing Palace’s early defensive frailties. The breakthrough arrived when Terry Yegbe’s calamitous throw-in fell to Pino, who scored direct from the error, and Palace extended their lead before half-time through Chris Richards’ header from a deep Adam Wharton corner and a Jørgen Strand Larsen penalty after Pino was brought down by Murawski.

There was nearly another before the break when the ball appeared to go in off Yegbe, but the assistant flagged for offside, and the Poznań travelling support — having backed their side since their European campaign began on 21 July — reacted by performing the dance they have made famous before turning their backs.

In the second half Poznań released a series of flares while Pino came close to a second, denied by a timely block on the line; Strand Larsen also fired over from the edge of the area. Sarr made his first appearance of the season to a mixed reception after transfer-window speculation over a move to Liverpool, with much of the reception ultimately positive, and Eddie Nketiah, introduced off the bench, rounded off the scoring with a fourth in the final minute.

Palace will travel to face in-form Leeds on Sunday, a testing Premier League trip, and the club will hope the comfortable Europa League win can kickstart their campaign under Sage.