Uche Fuels Straightforward Crystal Palace Victory at Shelbourne.
Even though embarking on their maiden European campaign, Oliver Glasner's side are learning at a rapid pace. Without star figures like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and defender Daniel Muñoz, the London club departed Dublin with a commanding win that virtually secures them a spot in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
Another three points in their upcoming match against Finnish KuPS should be sufficient to secure straight passage to the last 16, particularly following a previous stumble against Strasbourg.
Fringe Players Seize the Moment
This match provided a chance for some of Palace's lesser-used talent to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second start since arriving on loan from Getafe, opened the scoring with a clinical finish. Forward Eddie Nketiah added a second, scoring for the second game in match.
The Shelbourne side that had finished their domestic season proved no match even for a mostly rotated Palace outfit. The Londoners were already depleted by the reports that Mateta and Muñoz are out with leg problems.
Dominance Established from the Outset
In spite of torrential rain in Dublin, Palace quickly 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 tap-in.
Midfielder Adam Wharton came close soon after, driving a powerful effort over the bar. Nketiah subsequently appealed for a penalty after bursting into the box, but the referee waved away the protests.
Ex-Arsenal man didn't need to wait long to find his goal, tapping home from a yard out after Uche's effort had struck the post.
Shelbourne were hanging on desperately. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was fortunate to avoid a booking for two robust tackles on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards struck the crossbar with a header from a corner.
Pino Seals the Game
The contest was as good as over eight minutes before half-time. Yeremy Pino weaved past some comically weak challenges before calmly slotting a shot past goalkeeper Wessel Speel to make it 3-0.
Following the break, coach Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to rest several individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Substitute Romain Esse almost scoring with his very first touch, only to see his effort blocked.
The youngster was desperately unlucky later on, seeing one attempt strike off each posts before being gathered on the line. Uche also blazed a glaring chance, showing there is still room for improvement in his game.
A solitary concern 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 earn his senior debut, rounding off an otherwise perfect evening for the visiting side.
