Christantus Uche Fuels Comfortable Palace Win at Shelbourne.
Despite embarking on their maiden continental campaign, Crystal Palace are learning very quickly. Without star players like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the London club departed Dublin with a comfortable result that all but guarantees them a spot in the Conference League qualifying rounds.
Another three points in their next fixture against Finland's KuPS should be sufficient to secure straight entry to the last 16, especially after a prior stumble against Strasbourg.
Fringe Players Grasp the Opportunity
This match provided a platform for some of Palace's lesser-used players to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second start after arriving on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a well-taken finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah contributed a second, finding the net for the second game in succession.
A Shelbourne side that had concluded their league season were no match even for a mostly second-string Palace outfit. The Londoners were already depleted by the news that Mateta and Muñoz are sidelined with leg injuries.
Control Established from the Start
In spite of torrential rain in Dublin, Palace quickly established dominance. A slick passing sequence in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, allowed Nketiah to set up Uche for a simple finish.
Youngster Adam Wharton came close soon after, driving a long-range shot over the bar. Nketiah subsequently appealed for a penalty after bursting into the box, but the referee dismissed the appeals.
Ex-Arsenal striker did not have wait long to find his goal, tapping home from close range after Uche's shot had hit the post.
Shelbourne were hanging on desperately. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to escape a booking for a couple of robust challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the crossbar with a powerful header from a corner.
Yeremy Pino Seals the Contest
The match was as good as over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino weaved past some comically weak challenges before coolly dispatching a shot past goalkeeper Wessel Speel to extend the lead to 3-0.
Following the break, manager Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to withdraw key individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse came close to scoring with his very first touch, only to see his shot blocked.
The youngster was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one attempt crash off each posts before being gathered on the line. Uche also blazed a glaring chance, indicating there is still scope for development in his game.
A solitary worry for Palace was a late injury to Justin Devenny, who limped off. This allowed 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to make his first-team debut, capping an otherwise positive night for the traveling side.
