Christantus Uche Ignites Comfortable Crystal Palace Win at Shelbourne.
Even though embarking on their first-ever European campaign, Oliver Glasner's side are adapting at a rapid pace. Missing star players like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the London club left Dublin with a comfortable win that all but guarantees them a spot in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
A further victory in their upcoming match against Finland's KuPS ought to be enough to seal direct passage to the last 16, especially following a prior stumble against Strasbourg.
Fringe Players Grasp the Moment
This match offered a chance for several Palace's lesser-used talent to impress. Christantus Uche, making only his second start after arriving on loan from Getafe, opened the scoring with a clinical finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah contributed a second, finding the net for the second consecutive succession.
A Shelbourne team that had concluded their domestic season were no match even for a mostly rotated Palace lineup. The visitors were already weakened by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are out with knee problems.
Control Established from the Outset
In spite of heavy rain in Dublin, Palace quickly took control. A flowing passing sequence in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, allowed Nketiah to lay on Uche for a straightforward tap-in.
Youngster Adam Wharton went close minutes later, fizzing a long-range shot over the bar. Nketiah then appealed for a penalty after bursting into the area, but the official waved away the protests.
Ex-Arsenal man did not have wait long to get his goal, tapping home from close range after Uche's shot had hit the post.
The home side were clinging on desperately. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to avoid a booking for two robust challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the woodwork with a header from a corner.
Pino Wraps Up the Game
The contest was as good as over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past a series of comically weak challenges before calmly slotting a shot past goalkeeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
After the break, coach Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to rest several individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse came close to scoring his very first touch, but saw his shot blocked.
Esse was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one shot crash 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 was forced off. This allowed 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to earn his first-team debut, rounding off an otherwise perfect night for the visiting side.
