A 60-game season – the longest in Palace’s history – culminates in its finest moment.
It was the perfect sendoff for the departing Oliver Glasner, who has now cemented his place as Palace’s greatest-ever manager – if it was, somehow, in any doubt.
The match began skittishly, with both sets of fans attempting to sing out their nerves.
Yeremy Pino, however, looked confident from the start, taking on players with pace and purpose not yet fully realised in the Premier League. His piece of skill won Palace an early free-kick 35 yards from goal, however, the Eagles could not capitalise.
Perhaps struggling with the occasion, 19-year-old Jaydee Canvot appeared less assured than his Spanish teammate. There were multiple occasions where he panicked under pressure, leading to either an opposition chance or a needless throw-in.
The first major incident in the match came after Adam Wharton played a glorious ball to Pino over the top of Rayo’s defensive line. The former Villareal winger was cynically brought down by Pathe Ciss after the centre-back missed his interception, and rightfully booked by the referee.
The best chance of the game thus far fell to Tyrick Mitchell. A gorgeous deep cross from Adam Wharton found Mitchell alone in the six-yard box, but the Palace academy graduate headed painfully wide.
A cagey half, but one Palace could very well have rued not making the most of.
The start of the second 45 could not have been any more different – the Eagles came out fighting, with Mitchell whipping in a low and teasing ball aimed at Jean-Philippe Mateta, who was only just beaten to the ball by Florian Lejeune.
Both Chadi Riad and Daichi Kamada were in fine form, with the Moroccan aerially dominant and the Japanese – in his final game – finding new heights with his dribbling runs.
But then…
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM.
Wharton hit a fierce strike into Batalla, whose battered save fell perfectly into the path of Jean-Philippe Mateta. Open goal. Shanked. Left shin. Back of the net.
The Frenchman atones for his high xG misses earlier in the season by scoring the most important sitter of them all.
Mateta’s goal amplified the Palace resurgence, with the Eagles storming forward in numbers at every opportunity.
However, it was from a dead-ball situation that Palace’s next great opportunity materialised. Yeremy Pino struck both posts from the resulting free kick. Chadi Riad – who was in an offside position – whiffed his chance, and Palace struck the post again before it was finally cleared.
An all-timer passage of play for those who adore moments where the ball simply refuses to go in.
Just seconds later, yet another attack came from Palace, with Pino driving into the left side of the box and teeing up Mateta with the outside of his boot. His shot was saved and went out for a corner.
The game then hit a slight lull in terms of chance quality, but certainly not intensity. Rayo Vallecano gave Dean Henderson his first real test of the day, with Alemao striking a long shot with his laces which swerved dangerously, but the former Manchester United goalkeeper held firm.
Rayo continued to bite back in both fouls committed and shots on goal, but Palace were resolute at the back, keeping the Spanish side at bay.
In a blur, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Evann Guessand were introduced in place of the goalscorer Mateta and Pino. as the Eagles aimed to hold onto their slender lead.
The changes worked as intended. Rayo Vallecano’s chances became increasingly desperate, and their players sloppier in the tackle. By the time the clock had ticked painfully toward 90+5, the Spanish side had received six yellow cards.
But then. At last. 12 months and a borderline blood feud with UEFA in the making, Crystal Palace were champions of the Conference League.
Although the Oliver Glasner era has come to an end, Palace’s European tour has only just begun. The Austrian’s dream of watching the side he built play in the Europa League on TV will come true.
And of course, the dreams of every Palace fan have now come true and more. FA Cup. Community Shield. Conference League.
This is the legacy that Glasner, the magician of South London, will leave behind.