Crystal Palace\u2019s first-leg heroics proved enough to guide them to the Conference League semi-finals as they beat Fiorentina 4-2 on aggregate, after a 2-1 second-leg defeat.<\/p>\n Following a 3-0 win at Selhurst Park last week, Oliver Glasner\u2019s Eagles had plenty of breathing room, and an early strike from Ismaila Sarr in Florence made their position even more comfortable.<\/p>\n Albert Gudmundsson\u2019s penalty and Cher Ndour\u2019s long-range piledriver ensured Fiorentina turned Thursday\u2019s second leg around, but they were unable to find another goal to tee up a grandstand finish, leaving Palace to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the last four. <\/p>\n A driving run through the centre from Sarr almost resulted in a third-minute lead for Palace, but Daniel Munoz could only flash his shot past David De Gea\u2019s far post.<\/p>\n But the same duo combined to extend Palace\u2019s aggregate lead in the 17th minute, with Sarr beating De Gea with a towering header from Munoz\u2019s centre.<\/p>\n That goal left the Viola needing to score four to even force extra time, but the Serie A side did respond positively, with Gudmundsson keeping his cool from 12 yards on the half-hour mark, following Jaydee Canvot\u2019s foul on Rolando Mandragora.<\/p>\n Palace were left with a couple of big battle scars as both Adam Wharton and Maxence Lacroix went off injured before the start of the second half, and Fiorentina had a glimmer of hope when Ndour drilled into the bottom-left corner from 25 yards out in the 53rd minute.<\/p>\n But Dean Henderson denied Gudmundsson and Roberto Piccoli was wayward with a couple of headers as Fiorentina, for all their pressure, fell short of a memorable comeback.<\/p>\n Shakhtar await last season\u2019s FA Cup winners after defeating AZ Alkmaar 5-2 on aggregate, while the other semi-final will be between Rayo Vallecano and Strasbourg. <\/p>\n The Spanish side held off a comeback attempt from AEK Athens for a 4-3 aggregate success, while Gary O\u2019Neil\u2019s team stormed to a 4-0 home win over Mainz, having trailed 2-0 after the first leg in Germany.<\/p>\n We\u2019re on our wayyyyyyy <\/p>\n See you in the UEFA Conference League semi-final\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/ChFKtNSqYK<\/a><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.soccernews.com\/wp-content\/themes\/SN\/images\/300x250_HR.gif\")
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