Christantus Uche Ignites Comfortable Crystal Palace Victory at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Despite embarking on their maiden European campaign, Oliver Glasner's side are learning very quickly. Missing star figures like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and wing-back Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles left Dublin with a comfortable win that virtually guarantees them a place in the Conference League playoffs.
A further three points in their next fixture against Finland's KuPS ought to be sufficient to seal straight entry to the last 16, particularly following a previous stumble against Strasbourg.
Fringe Players Seize the Moment
This occasion provided a chance for some of Palace's lesser-used players to impress. Christantus Uche, making only his second start after joining on loan from Getafe, notched the scoring with a clinical goal. Striker Eddie Nketiah contributed a second, scoring for the second consecutive succession.
A Shelbourne side that had concluded their domestic season were outmatched against a mostly rotated Palace outfit. The visitors were further weakened by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are out with leg problems.
Dominance Asserted from the Start
In spite of torrential rain in Dublin, Palace quickly established dominance. A flowing passing sequence in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, let Nketiah to lay on Uche for a straightforward finish.
Midfielder Adam Wharton came close soon after, driving a powerful effort over the bar. Nketiah then claimed for a penalty after racing into the box, but the official dismissed the protests.
Ex-Arsenal man didn't need to 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 for dear life. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to avoid a booking for two robust challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the woodwork with a header from a corner.
Yeremy Pino Wraps Up the Contest
The contest was effectively over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past some weak challenges before coolly slotting a shot past goalkeeper Wessel Speel to extend the lead to 3-0.
Following the break, manager Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to withdraw several players like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse almost scoring with his first touch, but saw his shot blocked.
The youngster was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one shot strike off each posts before being gathered on the line. Uche also missed a sitter of a chance, showing there is still room for improvement in his game.
A solitary worry for Palace was a late injury to Justin Devenny, who limped off. This allowed 17-year-old striker Benji Casey to earn his senior debut, rounding off an otherwise positive night for the visiting side.
