Christantus Uche Sparks Straightforward Palace Win at Shelbourne.
Even though embarking on their maiden European adventure, Oliver Glasner's side are learning at a rapid pace. Missing star players like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles left Dublin with a comfortable win that virtually guarantees them a place in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
Another three points in their upcoming fixture against Finnish KuPS should be sufficient to seal straight entry to the last 16, especially following a previous setback against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Grasp the Opportunity
This match offered a chance for several Palace's fringe players to shine. Christantus Uche, in only his second start since joining on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a clinical finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah added a second, finding the net for the second game in match.
The Shelbourne team that had concluded their league season proved outmatched against a largely second-string Palace outfit. The Londoners were already depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are sidelined with knee injuries.
Dominance Asserted from the Start
In spite of torrential rain in Dublin, Palace quickly established dominance. A slick passing sequence in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, allowed Nketiah to lay on Uche for a straightforward finish.
Midfielder Adam Wharton came close soon after, fizzing a powerful effort over the bar. Nketiah then appealed for a penalty after bursting into the area, but the official dismissed the appeals.
The formerArsenal man didn't need to wait long to get his goal, tapping home from a yard out after Uche's effort had struck the post.
The home side were clinging on desperately. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to escape a booking for a couple of robust tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the crossbar with a powerful header from a corner.
Pino Seals the Game
The match was as good as over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino weaved past some weak challenges before calmly dispatching a shot past goalkeeper Wessel Speel to extend the lead to 3-0.
After the break, manager Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to rest key individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse came close to scoring his very first touch, but saw his effort blocked.
The youngster was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one shot strike off both posts before being gathered on the line. Uche also missed a glaring chance, showing there is still scope for improvement in his game.
The only concern for Palace was a second-half injury to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This paved the way for 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to make his first-team debut, rounding off an otherwise perfect evening for the visiting side.
