Uche Fuels Dominant Palace Win at Shelbourne.
Even though embarking on their maiden European adventure, Crystal Palace are learning at a rapid pace. Without star players like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the London club left Dublin with a comfortable win that all but secures them a place in the Conference League playoffs.
A further three points in their next fixture against Finland's KuPS ought to be enough to secure direct passage to the last 16, especially following a prior stumble against Strasbourg.
Fringe Players Seize the Opportunity
This match offered a chance for several Palace's lesser-used talent to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second beginning since arriving on loan from Getafe, opened the scoring with a well-taken finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah added a another, scoring for the second game in succession.
The Shelbourne team that had concluded their domestic season proved outmatched even for a largely rotated Palace outfit. The Londoners were further depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are out with leg problems.
Dominance Asserted from the Outset
In spite of heavy rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly took control. A flowing passing sequence in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, let Nketiah to set up Uche for a simple 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 box, but the official dismissed the appeals.
Ex-Arsenal striker did not have wait long to get his goal, tapping home from a yard out after Uche's shot had hit the post.
Shelbourne were clinging on for dear life. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to escape a booking for a couple of robust tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the woodwork with a powerful header from a corner.
Pino Wraps Up the Game
The contest was as good as over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino weaved past a series of weak challenges before calmly slotting a shot past goalkeeper Wessel Speel to extend the lead to 3-0.
Following the break, manager Oliver Glasner took the chance to rest several individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse almost scoring with his very first touch, but saw his effort blocked.
Esse was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one attempt crash 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 late injury to Justin Devenny, who limped off. This paved the way for 17-year-old striker Benji Casey to make his senior debut, rounding off an otherwise positive evening for the traveling side.
