Uche Fuels Comfortable Crystal Palace Victory at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Even though entering their maiden European campaign, Crystal Palace are learning very quickly. Missing key players like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the London club departed Dublin with a comfortable result that virtually guarantees them a place in the Conference League playoffs.
Another victory in their upcoming fixture against Finland's KuPS should be enough to secure straight passage to the last 16, especially after a previous stumble against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Seize the Opportunity
This match offered a platform for some of Palace's fringe talent to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second beginning after joining on loan from Getafe, opened the scoring with a clinical finish. Forward Eddie Nketiah added a another, finding the net for the second game in succession.
A Shelbourne team that had finished their league season were no match against a largely rotated Palace lineup. The visitors were further depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are out with knee injuries.
Dominance Established from the Outset
In spite of torrential rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly took control. A flowing passing sequence in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's clever pass, allowed Nketiah to set up Uche for a straightforward finish.
Midfielder Adam Wharton went close soon after, driving a powerful effort over the bar. Nketiah subsequently claimed for a penalty after racing into the area, but the referee waved away the appeals.
Ex-Arsenal man did not have wait long to get his goal, prodding home from a yard out after Uche's shot had hit the post.
The home side were hanging on for dear life. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to escape a booking for a couple of agricultural tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the woodwork with a header from a corner.
Pino Wraps Up the Contest
The contest was effectively over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past some weak challenges before coolly dispatching a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
Following the break, manager Oliver Glasner took the chance to withdraw key players like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse almost scoring his very first touch, only to see his effort blocked.
Esse was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one shot crash off both posts before being gathered on the line. Uche also missed a sitter of a chance, indicating there is still room for development in his game.
The only concern for Palace was a late knock to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This allowed 17-year-old striker Benji Casey to earn his first-team debut, capping an otherwise positive evening for the traveling side.
