Christantus Uche Fuels Straightforward Crystal Palace Victory at Shelbourne.
Even though embarking on their maiden European campaign, Crystal Palace are adapting very quickly. Missing star figures like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles left Dublin with a commanding win that virtually guarantees them a spot in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
A further victory in their upcoming match against Finnish KuPS ought to be enough to secure direct entry to the knockout stages, especially following a previous stumble against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Grasp the Moment
This match provided a platform for several Palace's fringe talent 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 another, scoring for the second consecutive match.
A Shelbourne side that had finished their domestic season proved outmatched even for a largely second-string Palace outfit. The visitors were already depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are sidelined with knee problems.
Dominance Established from the Start
In spite of torrential rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly took control. A flowing passing sequence in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, allowed Nketiah to lay on Uche for a straightforward finish.
Midfielder Adam Wharton went close soon after, fizzing a powerful shot over the bar. Nketiah subsequently appealed for a penalty after bursting into the area, but the official dismissed the protests.
Ex-Arsenal striker did not have wait long to find his goal, tapping home from close range after Uche's shot had struck the post.
Shelbourne were hanging on desperately. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to escape a booking for a couple of agricultural challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the woodwork with a powerful header from a corner.
Yeremy Pino Seals the Contest
The contest was effectively over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past some comically weak challenges before calmly slotting a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
Following the break, manager Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to withdraw several individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse almost scoring his very first touch, only to see his effort blocked.
The youngster was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one attempt strike off each posts before being clasped on the line. Uche also blazed a sitter of a chance, showing there is still room for development in his game.
The only concern for Palace was a late knock to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This paved the way for 17-year-old striker Benji Casey to make his senior debut, rounding off an otherwise positive night for the traveling side.
