Uche Fuels Comfortable Palace Victory at Shelbourne.
Even though entering their maiden continental adventure, Crystal Palace are adapting at a rapid pace. Missing star figures like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and defender Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles left Dublin with a commanding win that all but guarantees them a place in the Europa Conference League playoffs.
Another three points in their upcoming match against Finnish KuPS should be enough to seal straight passage to the knockout stages, especially after a prior stumble against Strasbourg.
Fringe Players Grasp the Moment
This match offered a chance for some of Palace's lesser-used talent to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second beginning after joining on loan from Getafe, opened the account with a well-taken goal. Forward Eddie Nketiah added a another, scoring for the second game in match.
The Shelbourne team that had concluded their domestic season were no match even for a largely second-string Palace lineup. The visitors were already weakened by the news that Mateta and Muñoz are sidelined with leg injuries.
Control Asserted from the Outset
In spite of torrential rain in Dublin, Palace quickly established dominance. A slick passing sequence in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, allowed Nketiah to lay on Uche for a simple tap-in.
Midfielder Adam Wharton went close minutes later, fizzing a long-range shot over the bar. Nketiah subsequently appealed for a penalty after racing into the box, but the referee dismissed the protests.
The formerArsenal man did not have wait long to get his goal, prodding home from close range after Uche's effort had struck the post.
The home side were clinging on for dear life. Full-back Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to escape a booking for two agricultural tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the crossbar with a powerful header from a corner.
Pino Seals the Contest
The match was effectively over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past some comically weak challenges before coolly slotting a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
After the break, coach Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to rest several individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse came close to scoring his first touch, only to see his effort blocked.
The youngster was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one shot strike off both posts before being clasped on the line. Uche then missed a glaring chance, showing there is still room for improvement in his game.
The only worry 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 positive evening for the visiting side.
