Uche Ignites Comfortable Crystal Palace Triumph at Irish Side Shelbourne.
Despite embarking on their first-ever European campaign, Crystal Palace are learning at a rapid pace. Missing star players like forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and defender Daniel Muñoz, the London club departed Dublin with a comfortable result that all but guarantees them a place in the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds.
Another victory in their upcoming fixture against Finnish KuPS should be sufficient to secure direct entry to the last 16, especially after a previous setback against Strasbourg.
Squad Members Seize the Moment
This match offered a chance for several Palace's fringe talent to impress. Christantus Uche, in only his second beginning since joining on loan from Getafe, opened the scoring with a clinical finish. Forward Eddie Nketiah contributed a another, finding the net for the second game in succession.
The Shelbourne team that had finished their domestic season proved no match against a mostly second-string Palace outfit. The Londoners were already weakened by the news that Mateta and Muñoz are sidelined with knee problems.
Control Established from the Start
In spite of torrential rain in Dublin, Palace quickly took control. A slick move in the 11th minute, initiated by Daichi Kamada's incisive pass, allowed Nketiah to lay on Uche for a straightforward finish.
Youngster Adam Wharton went close minutes later, fizzing a long-range shot over the bar. Nketiah then appealed for a penalty after bursting into the area, but the referee waved away the protests.
Ex-Arsenal striker didn't need to wait long to find his goal, prodding home from a yard out after Uche's shot had hit the post.
Shelbourne were hanging on for dear life. Defender Kameron Ledwidge was lucky to escape a booking for a couple of agricultural challenges on Yeremy Pino, before Chris Richards rattled the woodwork 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 weak challenges before calmly dispatching a shot past keeper Wessel Speel to extend the lead to 3-0.
Following the break, manager Oliver Glasner seized the opportunity to withdraw several individuals like Kamada and Wharton. Replacement Romain Esse almost scoring with his very first touch, but saw his shot blocked.
The youngster was incredibly unlucky later on, seeing one attempt crash off both posts before being clasped on the line. Uche also blazed a glaring chance, showing there is still scope for improvement in his game.
The only concern for Palace was a late 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 positive night for the traveling side.