Uche Fuels Comfortable Palace Victory at Shelbourne.
Even though entering their maiden European adventure, Crystal Palace are adapting at a rapid pace. Missing star players like striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and defender Daniel Muñoz, the London club departed Dublin with a comfortable win that all but secures them a place in the Conference League qualifying rounds.
A further three points in their upcoming fixture against Finnish KuPS ought to be sufficient to seal straight entry to the last 16, especially following a previous setback against Strasbourg.
Fringe Players Seize the Moment
This occasion provided a platform for some of Palace's fringe talent to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second start after joining 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 match.
A Shelbourne team that had concluded their league season were outmatched against a mostly rotated Palace lineup. The Londoners were already depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are sidelined with leg problems.
Dominance Asserted 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, allowed Nketiah to lay on Uche for a simple tap-in.
Youngster Adam Wharton went close minutes later, driving a powerful 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 did not have wait long to get his goal, prodding home from a yard out after Uche's effort had hit the post.
The home side were clinging on desperately. Full-back Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to avoid a booking for two agricultural challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the woodwork with a header from a corner.
Yeremy Pino Seals the Contest
The match was effectively over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino meandered past a series of weak challenges before calmly dispatching a shot past goalkeeper Wessel Speel to extend the lead to 3-0.
After the break, coach Oliver Glasner took the chance to withdraw key players like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse came close to scoring his very first touch, but saw his effort blocked.
Esse was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one attempt crash off each posts before being clasped on the line. Uche also blazed a sitter of a chance, indicating there is still scope for improvement in his game.
The only worry for Palace was a second-half injury to Justin Devenny, who limped off. This paved the way for 17-year-old forward Benji Casey to earn his first-team debut, rounding off an otherwise perfect night for the visiting side.
