Uche Fuels Comfortable Palace Win at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Even though embarking on their maiden European adventure, Oliver Glasner's side are learning very quickly. Missing star players like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and defender Daniel Muñoz, the Eagles left Dublin with a comfortable win that virtually secures them a spot in the Conference League playoffs.
A further three points in their upcoming fixture against Finland's KuPS should be enough to seal straight passage to the last 16, particularly following a prior setback against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Seize the Opportunity
This match offered a platform for some of Palace's fringe talent to impress. Christantus Uche, making only his second beginning since arriving on loan from Getafe, notched the account with a clinical finish. Striker Eddie Nketiah contributed a second, finding the net for the second game in succession.
A Shelbourne team that had concluded their league season were outmatched against a mostly rotated Palace outfit. The visitors were already depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are sidelined with knee injuries.
Control Asserted from the Start
Despite heavy rain in Dublin, Palace rapidly took control. A flowing passing sequence in the 11th minute, sparked by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, allowed Nketiah to set up Uche for a straightforward finish.
Youngster Adam Wharton went close minutes later, fizzing a long-range effort over the bar. Nketiah then claimed for a penalty after bursting into the area, but the referee waved away the appeals.
Ex-Arsenal striker did not have wait long to find his goal, tapping home from close range after Uche's effort had hit the post.
The home side were hanging on for dear life. Defender 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 match was as good as over eight minutes from half-time. Yeremy Pino weaved past some weak challenges before coolly slotting a shot past goalkeeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
Following the break, manager Oliver Glasner took the chance to rest several individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse came close to scoring his very first touch, only to see his effort blocked.
The youngster was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one shot strike off each posts before being gathered on the line. Uche then blazed a glaring chance, indicating there is still room for development in his game.
A solitary worry for Palace was a late injury to Justin Devenny, who was forced off. This paved the way for 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to make his senior debut, rounding off an otherwise positive evening for the traveling side.
