Christantus Uche Sparks Comfortable Crystal Palace Win at Shelbourne.
Despite entering their maiden European campaign, Oliver Glasner's side are learning at a rapid pace. Without star players like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles departed Dublin with a commanding win that all but guarantees them a place in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
A further victory in their next fixture against Finnish KuPS should be sufficient to seal direct entry to the knockout stages, especially following a prior stumble against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Grasp the Opportunity
This occasion offered a platform for some of Palace's fringe talent to shine. Christantus Uche, making only his second start after arriving on loan from Getafe, opened the account with a well-taken finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah added a another, finding the net for the second game in match.
A Shelbourne side that had concluded their league season were no match against a mostly second-string Palace outfit. The Londoners were already depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are sidelined with leg injuries.
Control Established from the Start
Despite heavy rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly took control. A flowing move in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, let Nketiah to lay on Uche for a straightforward finish.
Midfielder Adam Wharton went close minutes later, driving a long-range effort over the bar. Nketiah subsequently appealed for a penalty after bursting into the box, but the official waved away the protests.
Ex-Arsenal striker did not have wait long to get his goal, tapping home from a yard out after Uche's shot had struck the post.
The home side were clinging on for dear life. Full-back Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to avoid a booking for two agricultural tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the woodwork with a powerful header from a corner.
Pino Seals the Contest
The match was effectively over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past a series of weak challenges before calmly dispatching a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to extend the lead to 3-0.
After the break, coach Oliver Glasner took the chance to withdraw several players like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse came close to scoring with his very first touch, only to see his shot blocked.
Esse was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one shot strike off each posts before being gathered on the line. Uche then missed a sitter of a chance, indicating there is still room for improvement in his game.
The only worry for Palace was a second-half injury to Justin Devenny, who limped off. This allowed 17-year-old striker Benji Casey to make his first-team debut, capping an otherwise positive evening for the traveling side.
