Uche Fuels Comfortable Palace Triumph at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Despite embarking on their maiden continental adventure, Crystal Palace are learning at a rapid pace. Missing star figures like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles left Dublin with a commanding win that virtually guarantees them a spot in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
A further victory in their next match against Finland's KuPS ought to be sufficient to secure straight entry to the knockout stages, especially after a previous setback against Strasbourg.
Fringe Players Grasp the Moment
This occasion provided a chance for some of Palace's fringe players to shine. Christantus Uche, making only his second start since arriving on loan from Getafe, opened the scoring with a clinical goal. Forward Eddie Nketiah added a another, finding the net for the second game in match.
A Shelbourne team that had concluded their domestic season proved outmatched against a mostly rotated Palace lineup. The visitors were further depleted by the news that Mateta and Muñoz are sidelined with leg problems.
Control Asserted from the Outset
In spite of heavy rain in Dublin, Palace quickly established dominance. A flowing move in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, allowed Nketiah to lay on Uche for a simple tap-in.
Youngster Adam Wharton went close soon after, driving a long-range shot over the bar. Nketiah subsequently claimed for a penalty after racing into the box, but the official waved away the protests.
Ex-Arsenal man 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 desperately. Full-back Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to escape a booking for two agricultural tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the woodwork with a header from a corner.
Pino Seals the Contest
The contest was as good as over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past a series of comically weak challenges before coolly dispatching a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to extend the lead to 3-0.
After the break, manager Oliver Glasner took the chance to withdraw several individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse came close to scoring with his first touch, but saw his effort blocked.
The youngster was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one attempt crash off each posts before being clasped on the line. Uche then missed a glaring chance, showing there is still scope for development 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 striker Benji Casey to make his first-team debut, rounding off an otherwise positive night for the visiting side.
