Christantus Uche Sparks Comfortable Palace Win at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Even though embarking on their first-ever continental campaign, Oliver Glasner's side are learning very quickly. Missing key figures like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the London club left Dublin with a comfortable result that all but secures them a spot in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
Another three points in their next match against Finland's KuPS should be sufficient to seal direct entry to the last 16, especially following a prior setback against Strasbourg.
Fringe Players Seize the Opportunity
This match offered a platform for some of Palace's fringe talent to impress. Christantus Uche, making only his second start since arriving on loan from Getafe, notched the scoring with a clinical finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah contributed a second, finding the net for the second game in succession.
A Shelbourne side that had concluded their domestic season proved outmatched against a mostly rotated Palace outfit. The Londoners were further weakened by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are out with knee injuries.
Control Established from the Start
Despite heavy rain in Dublin, Palace quickly established dominance. A flowing move in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, allowed Nketiah to lay on Uche for a straightforward tap-in.
Youngster Adam Wharton came close soon after, driving a powerful shot over the bar. Nketiah then appealed for a penalty after bursting into the area, but the referee dismissed the appeals.
Ex-Arsenal man did not have wait long to get his goal, tapping home from a yard out after Uche's shot had hit the post.
The home side were clinging on for dear life. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to escape a booking for a couple of agricultural challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the crossbar with a header from a corner.
Pino Seals the Game
The contest was effectively over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino weaved past a series of weak challenges before coolly slotting a shot past goalkeeper Wessel Speel to extend the lead to 3-0.
After the break, coach Oliver Glasner took the chance to rest key individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse almost scoring his very first touch, but saw his shot blocked.
Esse was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one shot strike off each posts before being clasped on the line. Uche then missed a glaring chance, indicating there is still scope for development in his game.
The only worry for Palace was a second-half knock to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This allowed 17-year-old striker Benji Casey to make his senior debut, rounding off an otherwise positive evening for the visiting side.
