Christantus Uche Sparks Straightforward Palace Win at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Even though embarking on their first-ever European campaign, Oliver Glasner's side are adapting very quickly. Without star players like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the London club departed Dublin with a commanding win that all but secures them a place in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
Another victory in their upcoming fixture against Finland's KuPS should be sufficient to seal direct entry to the knockout stages, especially following a prior setback against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Seize the Moment
This match offered a platform for some of Palace's lesser-used talent to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second start since joining on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a clinical finish. Forward Eddie Nketiah added a another, finding the net for the second consecutive match.
A Shelbourne side that had finished their domestic season proved no match against a largely rotated Palace lineup. The Londoners were already weakened by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are out with knee problems.
Dominance Established from the Outset
In spite of heavy rain in Dublin, Palace quickly took control. A slick passing sequence in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, let Nketiah to lay on Uche for a straightforward tap-in.
Midfielder Adam Wharton went close soon after, fizzing a powerful shot over the bar. Nketiah then claimed for a penalty after racing into the area, but the referee dismissed the appeals.
The formerArsenal striker didn't need to wait long to find his goal, prodding home from close range after Uche's shot had struck the post.
Shelbourne were clinging on for dear life. Full-back Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to escape a booking for two robust tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the crossbar with a powerful header from a corner.
Pino Seals the Game
The contest was as good as over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino weaved past a series of 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 seized the opportunity to rest key individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse came close to scoring his first touch, only to see his effort blocked.
The youngster was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one attempt crash off each posts before being clasped on the line. Uche then blazed a glaring chance, indicating there is still room for development in his game.
A solitary 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 senior debut, rounding off an otherwise perfect night for the traveling side.
