Uche Sparks Comfortable Palace Win at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Despite entering their maiden European campaign, Oliver Glasner's side are adapting at a rapid pace. Missing key players like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles departed Dublin with a comfortable result that virtually guarantees them a place in the Europa Conference League playoffs.
A further three points in their upcoming match against Finnish KuPS should be sufficient to secure direct entry to the last 16, especially following a prior setback against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Seize the Moment
This match offered a chance for several Palace's lesser-used players to shine. Christantus Uche, in only his second beginning since arriving on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a well-taken goal. Striker Eddie Nketiah added a another, scoring for the second game in succession.
The Shelbourne side that had finished their domestic season were outmatched even for a mostly rotated Palace outfit. The Londoners were already weakened by the news that Mateta and Muñoz are out with leg injuries.
Dominance Established from the Start
In spite of heavy rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly established dominance. A slick passing sequence in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, let Nketiah to set up Uche for a simple finish.
Midfielder Adam Wharton went close minutes later, driving a long-range shot over the bar. Nketiah then claimed for a penalty after bursting into the area, but the official waved away the appeals.
Ex-Arsenal man didn't need to wait long to get his goal, prodding home from close range after Uche's effort had struck the post.
Shelbourne were hanging on for dear life. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to escape a booking for a couple of robust challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the woodwork with a powerful header from a corner.
Yeremy Pino Seals the Game
The match was effectively over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino weaved past some weak challenges before calmly dispatching a shot past goalkeeper Wessel Speel to extend the lead to 3-0.
After the break, coach Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to rest key players like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse came close to scoring with his first touch, only to see his shot blocked.
The youngster was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one attempt crash off both posts before being gathered on the line. Uche then blazed a sitter of a chance, indicating there is still scope for development in his game.
The only worry for Palace was a late knock to Justin Devenny, who limped off. This allowed 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to earn his senior debut, rounding off an otherwise positive evening for the traveling side.
