Uche Ignites Comfortable Crystal Palace Victory at Shelbourne.
Despite entering their first-ever continental campaign, Crystal Palace are adapting at a rapid pace. Missing star figures like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and defender Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles departed Dublin with a comfortable result that all but guarantees them a spot in the Europa Conference League playoffs.
Another victory in their next fixture against Finnish KuPS should be enough to seal straight passage to the knockout stages, especially after a previous setback against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Grasp the Opportunity
This occasion provided a chance for some of Palace's fringe players to impress. Christantus Uche, making only his second beginning since arriving on loan from Getafe, notched the scoring with a clinical finish. Forward Eddie Nketiah added a another, finding the net for the second consecutive match.
The Shelbourne team that had finished their domestic season proved no match against a mostly second-string Palace outfit. The visitors were further depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are sidelined with leg injuries.
Dominance Established from the Outset
In spite of heavy rain in Dublin, Palace quickly established dominance. A slick passing sequence in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, let Nketiah to lay on Uche for a simple finish.
Midfielder Adam Wharton came close soon after, fizzing a powerful shot over the bar. Nketiah subsequently claimed for a penalty after bursting into the area, but the official waved away the appeals.
The formerArsenal man did not have wait long to find his goal, prodding home from a yard out after Uche's effort had struck the post.
The home side were hanging on for dear life. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to avoid a booking for two robust tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the woodwork with a header from a corner.
Pino Seals the Game
The contest was effectively over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past some comically weak challenges before calmly dispatching a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
After the break, manager Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to rest several individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse almost scoring his very first touch, but saw his effort 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 worry for Palace was a late knock to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This paved the way for 17-year-old striker Benji Casey to make his first-team debut, capping an otherwise positive night for the traveling side.
