Uche Fuels Comfortable Palace Victory at Shelbourne.
Despite entering their first-ever European adventure, Crystal Palace are adapting very quickly. Missing star figures like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles departed Dublin with a commanding result that all but secures them a spot in the Conference League qualifying rounds.
Another three points in their upcoming fixture against Finnish KuPS ought to be sufficient to secure straight entry to the last 16, particularly following a previous setback against Strasbourg.
Fringe Players Grasp the Moment
This match offered a chance for some of Palace's lesser-used talent to impress. Christantus Uche, making only his second beginning after joining on loan from Getafe, opened the scoring with a well-taken goal. Striker Eddie Nketiah contributed a another, finding the net for the second consecutive match.
The Shelbourne team that had concluded their league season were outmatched against a mostly second-string Palace outfit. The visitors were already weakened by the news that Mateta and Muñoz are out with knee problems.
Dominance Asserted from the Outset
Despite torrential rain in Dublin, Palace quickly established dominance. A slick move in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, let Nketiah to set up Uche for a simple tap-in.
Youngster Adam Wharton went close soon after, driving a powerful effort over the bar. Nketiah subsequently claimed for a penalty after racing into the box, but the referee dismissed the appeals.
The formerArsenal man didn't need to wait long to find his goal, tapping home from close range after Uche's effort had struck the post.
The home side were clinging on desperately. Full-back Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to escape a booking for two robust tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the woodwork with a header from a corner.
Pino Wraps Up the Contest
The match was effectively over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino weaved past a series of weak challenges before calmly slotting a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
After the break, coach Oliver Glasner took the chance to rest key individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse almost scoring his very first touch, but saw his effort blocked.
Esse was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one shot strike off each posts before being clasped on the line. Uche then blazed a sitter of a chance, showing there is still scope for improvement in his game.
A solitary concern for Palace was a late injury to Justin Devenny, who limped off. This allowed 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to earn his senior debut, capping an otherwise positive evening for the traveling side.
