Uche Ignites Straightforward Crystal Palace Victory at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Despite embarking on their maiden continental campaign, Crystal Palace are learning very quickly. Missing star figures like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles departed Dublin with a commanding win that all but secures them a spot in the Conference League qualifying rounds.
A further victory in their next fixture against Finnish KuPS should be enough to secure straight passage to the last 16, particularly following a previous stumble against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Grasp the Moment
This match provided a chance for some of Palace's fringe players to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second start since arriving on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a clinical finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah contributed a second, finding the net for the second consecutive succession.
A Shelbourne side that had concluded their domestic season proved no match even for a largely rotated Palace outfit. The Londoners were further depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are out with leg problems.
Dominance Established from the Outset
In spite of heavy rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly established dominance. A flowing move in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, allowed Nketiah to lay on Uche for a simple finish.
Youngster Adam Wharton came close minutes later, fizzing a long-range effort over the bar. Nketiah subsequently claimed for a penalty after racing into the box, but the official waved away the protests.
Ex-Arsenal striker didn't need to wait long to find his goal, prodding home from close range after Uche's shot had struck the post.
The home side were hanging on for dear life. Full-back Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to avoid a booking for a couple of agricultural tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the woodwork with a powerful header from a corner.
Pino Seals the Game
The contest was as good as over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino weaved past some weak challenges before coolly dispatching a shot past goalkeeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
After the break, manager Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to withdraw key individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse almost scoring his very first touch, but saw his effort blocked.
The youngster was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one shot strike off both posts before being clasped on the line. Uche also blazed a sitter of a chance, indicating there is still room for improvement in his game.
A solitary concern for Palace was a late injury to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This allowed 17-year-old striker Benji Casey to earn his senior debut, capping an otherwise positive evening for the visiting side.
