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Adam Wharton delivered a standout performance as Oliver Glasner handed Crystal Palace supporters a dream farewell, guiding the London side to a well-deserved 1-0 triumph over Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on Wednesday night. From the outset, Wharton appeared on a mission to prove Thomas Tuchel wrong for omitting him from England’s World Cup squad for the upcoming tournament in North America.

The highly sought-after midfielder was in exquisite form, threading together a series of impressive passes and producing a perfectly weighted lofted ball into the box just before halftime, which Tyrick Mitchell somehow failed to convert from close range.

Early in the second half, Wharton surged forward to unleash a powerful shot from distance that Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla could only parry into the path of Jean-Philippe Mateta. The French striker reacted quickly, redirecting the rebound into the net with his calf to give Palace the lead.

Palace could have secured a more comfortable victory, with Yeremy Pino striking both posts from a stunning free-kick before setting up Mateta for a chance that should have doubled the advantage.

Fortunately for Glasner’s side, their missed chances went unpunished as Rayo’s attack failed to threaten significantly. The result ensured Palace lifted their first European trophy, coming just a year after their FA Cup final win over Manchester City that earned them their maiden domestic title.

Here are the player ratings for Crystal Palace from the clash at the Red Bull Arena:

Goalkeeper & Defence

Dean Henderson (6/10):

Despite Rayo seeing plenty of the ball, Henderson had little to contend with over the 90 minutes – other than raising the trophy at full-time.

Jaydee Canvot (6/10):

Committed one major first-half error when misjudging an attempt to let the ball run out of play, but he recovered well to deliver a solid defensive display thereafter.

Maxence Lacroix (7/10):

A commanding performance from Palace’s standout defender, underlining why several elite clubs are monitoring him closely.

Chadi Riad (6/10):

Escaped punishment after completely misreading a cross that Alemao might have converted, but remained composed and reliable for the rest of the contest.

Midfield

Daniel Munoz (6/10):

As always, provided a strong attacking outlet down the right flank and nearly connected with one of Pino’s pinpoint deliveries.

Adam Wharton (8/10):

Displayed his exceptional passing range early on and delivered a teasing cross for Mitchell before halftime that deserved a goal. Unsurprisingly, the match’s best player was pivotal in the opener, with his shot forcing the save that led to Mateta’s decisive strike.

Daichi Kamada (6/10):

Although less eye-catching than Wharton, Kamada impressed with his composure on the ball and immense work rate in midfield.

Tyrick Mitchell (6/10):

Worked tirelessly and delivered a few decent crosses, but squandered a golden opportunity late in the first half with a misdirected close-range header.

Attack

Ismaila Sarr (6/10):

Posed a consistent threat with his pace and agility, though he occasionally made poor decisions in the final third.

Jean-Philippe Mateta (7/10):

Opened the scoring with an instinctive, scrappy finish that ultimately proved decisive. Nearly doubled the lead moments later but was denied by a superb save from Batalla.

Yeremy Pino (8/10):

Looked set to break through on goal after receiving Wharton’s sublime pass before being brought down by Pathe Ciss. Unlucky not to score from a brilliant free-kick that hit both posts, and later created another fine chance that Mateta failed to convert.

Substitutes & Manager

Jorgen Strand Larsen (N/A):

Came on for Mateta in the final 15 minutes but had minimal impact as Palace saw out the win.

Evan Guessand (N/A):

Replaced a fatigued Pino late in the match to help secure the result.

Oliver Glasner (8/10):

What a farewell performance! Even during a cautious opening half hour, Palace appeared the stronger side, and their superior quality shone through after the break. Glasner’s next destination remains uncertain, but his tactical brilliance is unquestionable – having now won two major trophies with a club that had previously none.