Uche Sparks Comfortable Palace Victory at Shelbourne.
Even though entering their maiden continental campaign, Crystal Palace are learning very quickly. Without star players like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles left Dublin with a commanding result that virtually secures them a spot in the Europa Conference League playoffs.
A further victory in their next match against Finnish KuPS should be enough to secure straight passage to the knockout stages, especially following a prior setback against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Seize the Moment
This match provided a chance for some of Palace's lesser-used players to impress. Christantus Uche, making only his second beginning after arriving on loan from Getafe, notched the scoring with a well-taken finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah contributed a second, scoring for the second game in match.
A Shelbourne team that had concluded their domestic season proved outmatched against a largely rotated Palace lineup. The visitors were already weakened by the news that Mateta and Muñoz are out with knee problems.
Control Asserted from the Start
Despite heavy rain in Dublin, Palace quickly took control. A slick passing sequence in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, allowed Nketiah to lay on Uche for a simple finish.
Youngster Adam Wharton went close minutes later, fizzing a powerful shot over the bar. Nketiah subsequently claimed for a penalty after bursting into the area, but the official dismissed the protests.
The formerArsenal man did not have wait long to find his goal, tapping home from close range after Uche's shot had struck the post.
The home side were hanging on desperately. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to escape a booking for two agricultural challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the woodwork with a header from a corner.
Yeremy Pino Wraps Up the Game
The match was as good as over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past some comically weak challenges before calmly slotting a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to extend the lead to 3-0.
After the break, manager Oliver Glasner took the chance to rest several players like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse came close to scoring 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 also blazed a sitter of a chance, indicating there is still scope for development in his game.
A solitary concern for Palace was a second-half injury to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This allowed 17-year-old striker Benji Casey to make his first-team debut, rounding off an otherwise perfect night for the traveling side.
